Apple Inc. (NASDAQ :AAPL) is weeks away from unveiling the new lineup of iPads for the first time. According to the Japanese webpage Mac Otakara, which has predicted Apple news before, the tech company will reveal the models at a special event during March 2017.
It is possible that the company will showcase a brand new iPad, plus upgraded version of older models like the iPad Pro. There are also rumors pointing out that Apple will offer a more affordable tabletthis year, which could have a price tag of $299, a significant difference from the entry level $399 iPad Air 2.
Mac Otakara blog says Apple plans to introduce new iPad Pros in March, in addition to a new iPhone. The timing would coincide the one year anniversary of the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which premiered on March 2016.
DigiTimes reports that some new models won’t come out until May or June, but at least one of the new iPads will reach the stores by thetime of the event.
What we can expect
Fans expect up to for new models with a variety of screen sizes, including a 7.9-inch (diagonal), a 10.5 or 10.9-inch, and a 12.9-inch iPad.
The upcoming models should be coming out with an A10X processor, and improvement of the current A10 processor chip inside the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus handsets.
Rumors are also pointing a new, magnetic Apple Pencil, smart connector, four speakers, 12-megapixel iSight front camera with True Tone Flash, True Tone displays, a thinner bezel, and, most likely, a 3.5mm audio jack.
The brand new iPad
Apple has said nothing official about the next generation iPads, and it is not clear if the stores will either see new iPad Mini, Pro, Air, or something different. It is possible that Apple will tie the three overlapping iPad product lines into a single entry-level premium tier.
Currently, the iPad come in three sizes: the iPad Pro has 12.9-inch and 9.7-inch display versions; the Ipad Air 2 has a 9.7-inch display, and the iPad Mini 4 and iPad Mini 2 comes out with a 7.9-inch screen.
Japanese blog Mac Otakara reports Apple will update the Ipad Mini 4, the Air 2, and the original Pro while releasing a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro 2.
The 10.5-inch iPad
Veteran Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported the iPad Pro 2 will be targeted to business and education markets, while Forbes magazine pointed out the model will come with a smaller bezel and improved fingerprint sensor.
Kuo also claims Apple will follow through a dramatic redesign of its iPad. It means the company could include a model with a flexible AMOLED display and stores will get to see the model on early 2018. On 2017, though, customers will more likely see an iPad with an ultrathin bezel, a larger display, and a compact footprint.