KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known Apple tipster, has expressed that iPad sales are bound to struggle this year. Despite the rumored arrival of the iPad Pro (aka iPad Air Plus), the analyst is convinced that it won't bring financial increase right away.

According to AppleInsider, Kuo's projections revealed that iPad shipments will decline 52.7% in Q1 2015, while the next quarter will see another 30 - 40% drop. As told by the outlet, Kuo doesn't expect the new iPad to "contribute meaningfully to shipments momentum anytime soon."

Kuo's earlier predictions had been almost precise, making him one of the most reliable tipsters with all things Apple.

For instance, the analyst provided specific selling points in the previous quarter, such as 73 million iPhones, 21.4 million iPads and 5.866 million Macs, Invest Correctly reported. Apparently, out of these figures, the Cupertino giant sold 74.5 million iPhones, 21.4 million iPads and 5.5 million Macs. That's pretty close, and it's worth noting that the iPad sales forecast appeared to be right!

This time, will Kuo's iPad projections translate to cold, hard facts? We'll be on the lookout.

In case you haven't heard, the iPad Pro is touted as a mega-sized, 12.9 inch tablet. Just recently, leaks referring to the device had become online sensations, despite the lack of official word from Apple.

The iPad Pro's release date remains uncertain, considering differences in surfacing claims. According to Macworld, reports have indicated that the new iPad arrives early this year (March) or in the third quarter (July being the earliest).

As told by the PCAdvisor, the iPad Pro will "showcase the best tech Apple can offer." If that sounds vague, some of the tablet's purported specs include a Quad-HD screen, quad-core processor, 128 GB of storage, 11000mAh battery, iOS 8 / 9 support and at least 2 GB of RAM.

Apple has been known for its craftsmanship that pays attention to thin and lightweight material. PC advisor expected the iPad Pro to come at a thickness of 7 mm, weighing around 550 g.

The device is also rumored to pack four speakers and an SD card slot. Know Your Mobile cited a report, which expected the device to feature a resolution of 2732 x 2048 pixels (265ppi).

In terms of price, TechRadar predicted that the device sells "likely somewhere" between the iPad Air and MacBook Air.

What do you expect to see in the iPad Pro? Regardless of industry opinion, can the device bring significant increase in iPad sales? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.