DigiTimes: Apple starts shipping new iPad and MacBook Air with its own chips
Apple suppliers are preparing to release new iPad Air, MacBook Air, and iPad 11 models, according to DigiTimes.
Here's What We Know
The shipment of new devices began in December last year. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the new iPad Air, MacBook Air, and budget iPad models are expected to appear in the near future, but the exact release date has not yet been disclosed.
Gurman suggests that the announcement of the new devices could take place by March or April this year, and possibly much earlier.
In a report available only by subscription, the Taiwanese publication says that the new devices will be powered by chips developed by Apple itself. Since the iPad and Mac already use Apple processors, this is likely to be a new chip for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Gourmet previously reported that this chip will appear in Macs and iPads no earlier than 2026, so the exact timing of the transition remains unknown.
It is not entirely clear how beneficial the new Wi-Fi chip will be for consumers, as it will support the Wi-Fi 6E standard, but it is not yet known how it will outperform the existing chips supplied by Broadcom. One of the advantages of the new chip may be improved energy efficiency.
The new MacBook Air lineup will be equipped with M4 chips, while the iPad Air is likely to get an M3 chip, and the iPad 11 may get A16 or A17 Pro chips. In general, no significant changes are expected, except for updated chips.
Apple may commission Samsung to produce even more OLED panels for the iPhone due to quality issues at the Chinese manufacturer BOE.
Source: DigiTimes
