Apple hints one rumored product won’t launch soon
▼ Summary
– Apple reported a strong quarter, but its CFO’s guidance implied a new iPad launch is unlikely soon.
– During the earnings call, Apple CFO Kevan Parekh voluntarily mentioned a “difficult compare” for iPad revenue due to last year’s A16 iPad launch.
– The base iPad was rumored to launch earlier this year but did not, despite the iPad Air arriving in March.
– Parekh’s comments suggest the A18 iPad will launch in July at the earliest, likely later due to Apple’s summer product launch patterns.
– The “difficult compare” comment indicates no new iPads are expected until later this year, contradicting earlier reports of an imminent release.
Apple delivered another blockbuster quarterly performance yesterday, but during its forward-looking guidance, the company dropped a subtle yet telling signal about a rumored product that won’t be arriving anytime soon.
Each quarter, Apple hosts an investor earnings call where executives field questions about financial results and future expectations. Analysts routinely probe for hints about upcoming hardware, but Apple’s leadership almost always deflects, offering no insight into the company’s product roadmap. However, on yesterday’s call, Apple voluntarily offered a rare glimpse into its plans,without being asked.
In his opening remarks, Apple CFO Kevan Parekh stated: “We expect our June quarter total company revenue to grow by 14 to 17% year-over-year, which comprehends our best view of constrained supply. On iPad, keep in mind, we face a difficult compare driven by the launch of the A16-powered iPad in the prior year.”
This comment carries significant weight because Apple had been widely expected to release a successor to the A16 iPad earlier this year. That launch never happened. When a new iPad Air arrived in March without a corresponding base model,despite both debuting together last March,reports suggested the entry-level iPad was still on track. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman noted, “it’s still coming this year, and the hardware is ready to go.”
Yet Parekh’s phrasing strongly suggests the A18 iPad won’t appear before July at the earliest, and likely much later. Apple rarely launches major products during the late summer months, so a fall release seems more probable. While it’s possible the new iPad could drop sooner,and Parekh highlighted the “difficult compare” because any launch would still be later than last year’s,the more plausible interpretation is that no new iPads will arrive until later in 2026.
When do you think Apple will finally unveil the A18 iPad? Share your predictions in the comments.
(Source: 9to5Mac)
