Rumors of a larger iPad with a 12.9 inch screen have been swirling around for more than a year now, despite Apple not acknowledging the device’s presence in the slightest. Now, Digitimes reports that components for the 12.9 inch iPad – supposedly called the Pro – are expected to start shipping in late September with the device itself coming to market after mid-November.
However, the initial shipment volume is much lower than what most market watchers are expecting from Apple. With the tablet market stagnating, Apple has been cautious with the order that it has placed to Foxconn for the tablet. The number of ordered units, apparently, is “much lower” than the expectations of most analysts. The DigiTimes report also claims that Chinese OEMs are looking to capitalise on the launch of the iPad Pro by releasing their own tablets with screen size of anywhere between 10- to 15-inches later this year. These companies are planning on using a chipset from Intel in their devices to maximise their profit margin in the stagnating tablet market.
In recent quarters, Apple CEO Tim Cook kept defending the iPad, suggesting there’s plenty of room to grow even though iPad sales have not met expectations. Apple is expected to target the larger iPad more towards the enterprise and education sectors where demand for larger tablets exists, obviously it’s going to cost much more than what the base model of the iPad Air 2 goes for right now.
Earlier this year, Apple already demoed at least one iOS 9 feature for tablets that would make them even better tools for work-related purposes, and that’s split-screen multitasking. Other rumored specs and features include a 2,048 by 2,732 display with the same PPI as the iPad Air 2, a stylus and pressure-sensitive (Force Touch) touchscreen, USB 3.1 with Type-C connector, and a beefed-up chipset with all the RAM you can possibly need on iOS.
DigiTimes has a hit-and-miss track record reporting on Apple’s upcoming product plans, so this latest rumor should be treated with a proverbial grain of salt. Nevertheless, the rumor is consistent with previous reports that widely expect the “iPad Pro” to launch in the second half of this year. Apple has also historically announced new iPad models in October, which could line up with a launch around mid-November.
