The continued iPad watch and everything else coming from Apple in April

Macworld

March delivered some actual new Apple hardware in the form of the M3 MacBook Air, but we didn’t get the new iPads we were expecting. Rumor has it those are still on the way, they’re just going to drop in April instead.

We’ve also been in a strange break between software releases. We expected iOS 17.4 and macOS 14.4 to be followed immediately by beta test versions of iOSO 17.5 and macOS 14.5, but it’s been weeks now with no beta and only a couple small bugfix/security updates. We don’t think Apple is done with the 17/14 generation of operating system updates, but it’s up in the air exactly when the next releases will drop.

Rumored new hardware: iPads

We thought new iPads might ship along with the new M3 MacBook Air in March, but the month came and went with no announcement. Then rumors reported an April release, but the latest from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg is that they’re not going to be available until early in May. Apparently the software is taking a little more time to finish up, and the new manufacturing processes for the new iPads have caused some minor delays. However, even if the new iPads do indeed slip into early May, there’s a chance we could still get an announcement of them in late April (with availability the following week, at the start of May).

The iPad Pro probably gets its biggest update, with a switch to an OLED display and the camera moved to the long edge of the tablet (so it’s on top when held in landscape orientation).

The iPad Air is said to get an M2 upgrade and a landscape-oriented front camera. Most rumors suggest a 12.9-inch model will also be added, though some recent rumblings suggest that won’t happen.

Apps and software updates

Usually, a new version of iOS/iPadOS and macOS enter beta immediately following each point release. But there was no iOS 17.5 or macOS 14.5 beta after the 17.4 and 14.4 releases.

We certainly expect a beta of iOS and iPadOS 17.5 and macOS 14.5 in April, but the final release will likely fall to May, and since the beta isn’t out yet we can’t even say what features or changes might be included.

Additionally, Gurman’s report on iPad delays claims Apple is working on a new version of iOS 17.4, which suggests the next round of updates won’t arrive until later in May.

Services

Apple TV+

Here are the shows, series, and movies we expect to release on Apple TV+ in April. If you want to know what’s coming later, check our full guide to upcoming Apple TV+ content.

Loot (season 2): Loot returns for season two a year after Molly Wells settles her very public divorce from tech billionaire John Novak, and we find her thriving in her role as the head of her philanthropic organization, the Wells Foundation. April 3

Sugar: Colin Farrell stars as John Sugar, an American private investigator on the heels of the mysterious disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the beloved granddaughter of legendary Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel. April 5

Girls State: What would American democracy look like in the hands of teenage girls? A political coming-of-age story and a stirring reimagination of what it means to govern, “Girls State” follows young female leaders — from wildly different backgrounds across Missouri — as they navigate an immersive experiment to build a government from the ground up. April 5

Franklin: A limited series about one of America’s founding fathers, based on the book A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America by Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff. April 12

The Big Door Prize (season 2): A small town is forever changed when a mysterious machine appears, promising to reveal everyone’s true potential. Soon residents start changing jobs, rethinking relationships, and questioning long-held beliefs—all in pursuit of a better future. April 24

Apple Arcade

Apple releases most Apple Arcade games on the first Friday of each month. Check our Apple Arcade FAQ for a full list of Apple Arcade games and more details on the service. Occasionally, games are released with no forewarning, but you’ll usually see next month’s releases listed in the Coming Soon section.

Sago Mini Trips+: A collection of preschool adventure games. April 4

Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop: The classic match-3 formula with a huge variety of rules, options, and puzzles. April 4

Super Monsters Ate My Condo+: An update to the classic tile matching and stacking game. April 4

Apple Inc