Let’s talk about this Apple ‘Let Loose’ event shall we?

Apple has announced the date for its next Special Event and in what might be considered a slightly odd move, it is happening around a month before its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC).

The next Apple event will take place on 7 May 2024, with the invite going out to select media and as always, the invite (as well as Tim Cook’s tweet) offers a couple of hints about the event. I say a couple of hints, because as usual, nothing is confirmed and everyone decrypting the invite is predominantly making educated guesses, but it keeps us all entertained on a Tuesday, hey. 

There is always an underlying message in the invite so there will no doubt be something in the colours of the Apple and the various pen strokes, the fact that the final Apple has folds that look like paper and of course, perhaps more obviously, the Apple Pencil that takes centre stage – Apple fans, see what I did there?

What could Apple launch at its ‘Let Loose’ Special Event on 7 May?

My best guess, based on rumours and the invite, is that Apple will finally be giving us some new iPads. In a break from tradition, Apple didn’t reveal any new iPads in 2023, not even to the base model – currently the iPad 10th generation – so new tablets have been on the cards for some time.

Rumours have suggested a number of upgrades – both for the iPad Pro and the iPad Air. The iPad Pro models haven’t seen a design update since 2018 and while it might be hard to see where Apple can really take them, there is always somewhere, whether it’s thinner bezels, a drop in weight or perhaps some bigger changes in the underlying technology, like the display panel, perhaps?

A move to an OLED panel has been suggested frequently and it would be welcomed (even though the Mini-LED displays on the Pro models are excellent), while an upgrade to the M3 chip that is currently in the MacBook Air (M3), MacBook Pro models and the iMac is surely a given. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the front camera move to landscape orientation like the iPad 10th generation, but that’s because logically, it’s a better position. There’s also some talk of a matte display for the iPad Pro models and that is something I’d love to see – whether it will appear or not is questionable, but we can hope.

The iPad Air is rumoured to be announced at the same time as the iPad Pro models, which is a little odd. They have been separate in the past but rumours all point towards a dual announcement. There are also suggestions of the iPad Air in a new 12.9-inch size (yes please, I am here for that), and there’s talk of a move from the LCD display to the Mini-LED display found on the Pro models. If any of those rumours are true, it would make for a compelling upgrade, and a great successor to the iPad Air from 2022.

When it comes to the processor in the iPad Air, I’d expect the iPad Air to run on the M2 (the current model is M1) and a move to M3 would give people less reason to upgrade to the next-generation iPad Pro. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see the colours from the ‘Let Loose’ invite translate into the colour options for the next-gen iPad Air, but again, that’s just me guessing – or perhaps hoping. Who wouldn’t want a purple iPad like the iMac?

Elsewhere, the ‘Let Loose’ invite puts the Apple Pencil in the centre. Apart from suggesting the event is to do with iPads – you can’t use the Apple Pencil with iPhone or Mac – it could be that a new Apple Pencil is on the horizon, or at least some new features, or dare I say it, colours? Tim Cook’s tweet also says “Pencil us in”, which very much suggests a new Apple Pencil rather than just a play on words.

The Apple Pencil 2nd generation is still the hero Apple Pencil, despite the Apple Pencil (USB-C) launching towards the end of 2023 and ushering in USB-C charging. A third generation Apple Pencil is certainly possible, and there have been rumours of a squeeze gesture, as well as interchangeable magnetic tips – which Cook’s various Apple drawings could potentially allude to. A new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro models has also been mentioned, claimed to feature a more premium build, which is a perfectly legitimate suggestion, like the rumours surrounding the new Pencil.

When it comes to the ‘Let Loose’ wording – well, that’s anyone’s guess. I’m pretty sure it is not a reference to getting loose and going partying so I suspect it is more likely a reference to being able to do more on iPad. Let your imagination loose, for example.

How can I watch the Apple ‘Let Loose’ Special Event?

You’ll be able to watch the Apple ‘Let Loose’ Special Event online at apple.com. The company has a specific Events page that allows you to watch the keynote, and it also shows it on YouTube. 

It starts at 7:00am PT, which is 3pm in BST in the UK, or 10am ET time on 7 May.