Apple May Announce Two New 2018 9.7-Inch iPad Models Next Month

Apple is expected to release refreshed version of iPads and MacBooks this year. Thanks to recent registration filings, it now appears as though Apple is preparing to release two new iPad models in March.

Earlier this week, Apple registered several new devices in the Eurasian commission database, which was first discovered by Consomac. The most recent entries include filing for devices with model numbers A1954 and A1893. The devices are simply described as Apple tablets running iOS 11, which only means that these are two new iPad models.

But are these the new iPads with Face ID? That’s highly unlikely. Previous rumors suggest that Apple would introduce those brand new Face ID iPads during the second half of 2018. However, these recent filings seem to indicate these two new iPad models will launch a lot sooner.

9To5Mac pointed out that references for the iPhone 7 and the AirPods first popped up two weeks before their official announcements. As for the 2017 MacBooks and Apple’s new keyboards, those appeared in the Eurasian database in May before being officially announced in early June during WWDC 2017. The timing of the Eurasian filings seem to suggest that Apple will unveil the two new iPad models in March 2018.

It’s now being speculated the these two new iPad models may just be refreshed versions of the regular non-Pro 2017 9.7-inch iPad. It seems very plausible considering that the 2017 iPad was also announced in the month of March last year and an annual update or refresh for devices isn’t so outlandish for a company like Apple.

The 2018 9.7-inch iPad will most likely look similar to the 2017 version but will include internal upgrades. It was also rumored back in December that Apple was planning to release a cheaper iPad model with a $259 price tag during the second quarter of 2018. The 2017 9.7-inch iPad costs $329. Apple could announce the $259 2018 iPad in March and start selling the device in April, but that’s just speculation at this point.

Since these two new 2018 iPad models are expected to be refreshed version of last year’s model, it’s likely that Apple won’t make a big deal out of it. When it announced the 2017 9.7-inch iPad, Apple simply made a press release to inform consumers of the new product.