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Image Credits: An apple

So far, the biggest surprise about the Let Loose event on May 7 is that it’s happening at all. Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference is just over a month away, and yet the company has decided it has enough news to warrant a stand-alone event starting tomorrow at 7am PT/10am ET. iPads (including the iPad Pro and iPad Air) will take center stage, while the long-neglected Apple Pencil will finally get some love. After all, this was the central point of the invitation to the event.

Rumors have also started swirling around a potential M4 announcement. If true, it would represent a key shift in Apple’s silicon release cadence, though it hasn’t exactly been consistent over the years. The most likely reason for the change is Microsoft’s expected release of first-party, ARM-based silicon at its Build conference at the end of the month. Speculation is that Microsoft’s AI-focused silicon will smoke out Apple’s M3 chips.

It’s only been about seven months since Apple announced a trio of M3 chips. That’s a quick turnaround for a replacement chip, but keep in mind that the company is believed to have been working on a more delayed release schedule last year, only for those plans to be derailed by some ongoing supply chain issues. Perhaps this rescheduling could lead to additional M4 SKUs being announced during WWDC in a month.

Meanwhile, it’s possible that the newest chip will first appear on the iPad — specifically the iPad Pro — for the first time. At the very least, a high-end iPad needs to be updated. The latest model, which features the M2 chip, was released towards the end of 2022. Apple has spent the last few years blurring the line between iPad and Mac, so why not let the tablet get its hands on new silicon first for a change ?

The other big change in the Pro is said to be the long-awaited upgrade to an OLED display. Bloomberg suggests that it can’t happen soon enough, as the tablet category is “currently in a deep funk.” Certainly the days of the iPad, one of Apple’s superstar devices, seem almost behind us.

Image Credits: Matthew Panzarino

The company continues to dominate the category, but the tablet had a rough 2023, giving Apple a big slice of an ever-shrinking pie. Canalys says the overall market declined 10% last year. Given the slow launch of the Vision Pro, Apple could really take a chance right now – although the redesigned iPad really doesn’t live up to the hype.

A pair of new iPad Airs are said to arrive in 11- and 12.9-inch versions. The current rumor still has it that the more affordable models get the M2 chip — but if the M4 does indeed arrive next week, perhaps they’ll get an extra boost as well.

For what remains a relatively niche device, the Apple Pencil is clearly ready for its close-up. The stylus is said to be getting a new update to the squeeze detection feature (which was previously mentioned on the iPad). Haptic feedback can also be included, along with interchangeable magnetic tips. Find My support may also arrive — a welcome addition for a perennially inappropriate peripheral. Speaking of blurring the lines between iPad and Mac, Apple’s latest Magic Keyboard makes the tablet look even more like a laptop than before.

Image Credits: An apple

As for the Macs themselves, with the arrival of the M4, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the company sneak in a PC refresh or two. It seems just as likely—or even more likely—that Apple is saving major additions to the Mac lineup for WWDC in June.

The event is early for you West Coasters, but you can watch it live here and follow TechCrunch for news as it breaks.