iPad Pro Release Date, Specs, Features & Price: Way Thicker Than iPad Air 2? [Rumors]
The rumored mega-tablet could disappoint prospects aiming for a thinner device.
Days before Apple's "Spring Forward" event, speculations over the iPad Pro have bombarded the internet. Fresh from the highlights of this year's Mobile World Congress, the industry has now set eyes on the Apple Watch -- but the rest of Apple's products are certainly not forgotten.
For the uninitiated, note that the iPad Pro (aka iPad Air Plus) has not been confirmed by the Cupertino giant. As told by Computerworld, analysts are now convinced that the tablet arrives late 2015 or early 2016. As you may have guessed, this is another push in the rumor wheelbarrow, which previously pegged a March arrival (Spring Forward, yes).
Another side of the story believes a third quarter launch, which technically puts June as the earliest time. This appears to be one possibility, considering that Apple's next Worldwide Developers Conference is expected to run on June 8 to 12.
While these are best taken with a spoon of salt, rumors about the iPad Pro's thickness have been fairly consistent since last year. In fact, the measurement may have been out all these time.
The Daily Mail cited an earlier leak, which suggested that the iPad Pro is thicker by 0.9 mm than the iPad Air 2. Users would know that the latter possessed a depth of 6.1 mm (probably the world's second-thinnest tablet), which gives the iPad Pro a thickness of 7.0 mm.
The alleged mold is believed to measure 12 inches tall, 8.7 inches wide and 0.27 inches thick (305.3 mm x 220.8 mm x 7.0 mm). Reportedly, the image was photographed from Foxconn's factory in China. Foxconn is a known manufacturer for Apple.
Interestingly, an earlier report from Expert Reviews cited rumors, which appeared to yield the same detail. At the time of reporting, the iPad Pro is touted to be "No thinner than the iPhone 6 (6.9mm) and no thicker than the iPhone 6 Plus (7.1mm)." That's exactly 7.0 mm.
If these data are to be believed, how do we expect the iPad Pro's pattern in terms of thickness? If Apple continues to trim the iPhone and the iPad Air series, will the iPad Pro get thinner in time as well?
In the meantime, we've also curated the latest information about the 12.9-inch tablet. For one, it's pegged to sport an oxide LCD display, MacRumors noted. This is said to have resulted following Apple's assessment of cost vs. performance between a-Si, TFT LCD and Oxide LCD display technologies.
As cited in the report, Sharp is expected to be Apple's primary display vendor, considering its "advantages" in production. LG comes as second choice. Mass production is eyed to begin the earliest in July, though a limited supply could take off by May.
Citing information from the Wall Street Journal, iJailbreak wrote that the iPad Pro could feature faster charging, mouse and keyboard connectivity ports and a USB 3.0 port. It looks like the device, indeed, is bound to become Apple's newest working companion. It sounds familiar.
TechRadar predicted that the device will cost "somewhere between" the iPad Air and MacBook Air.