Apple unveils new iPads, putting USB-C on its entry-level tablet for the first time, along with a cheaper TV box
- The tech giant’s new iPad Pro sports its latest M2 chip, while the entry-level tablet got its first redesign in five years and a price bump to US$449
- The company also slashed the price of the Apple TV box, which now starts at US$129 for a Wi-fi-only model

The latest iPad Pro now sports the same M2 chip used in recent Mac computers, while the entry-level iPad is getting a fresh design and new charging port, the company said on Tuesday in a series of online announcements. The new Apple TV device, meanwhile, has a lower price and more storage.
The changes help revitalise products that are often overshadowed by Apple’s iPhone, the company’s biggest moneymaker. The iPad generates roughly 9 per cent of the tech giant’s revenue and enjoyed a resurgence during the early days of the pandemic, though it also suffered from supply shortages. The company’s home products, part of a division that includes the Apple TV box as well as smartwatches and speakers, generated nearly 11 per cent of revenue last year.
Apple is expected to rake in more than US$128 billion in its December quarter, up about 4 per cent from a year earlier. That’s slower growth than it’s seen in recent holiday periods, but the company is contending with sluggish consumer spending, inflation pressure and fears of a recession.
Apple had initially intended to boost iPhone production this year to meet an uptick in demand, but it scaled back those plans in recent weeks, Bloomberg News reported. The Information said Tuesday that Apple is re-evaluating demand for the iPhone Plus, a new model with a large screen but not the features of the iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max.
Apple shares dipped 0.3 per cent to US$141.95 as of 3:15pm in New York.
Tuesday’s crop of new products could give consumers a reason to upgrade or spring for a higher-end model. The new iPad Pro and Apple TV represent the first refreshes to those products in a year and a half. After a minor update in September 2021, the entry-level iPad now has a whole new look – and a US$120 price increase.