Apple’s going to launch an all-new 10.5-inch iPad next year according to a new report out of Taiwan. Production for the new model is apparently set to begin in December 2016.
To recap, talk about a 10.5-inch iPad had first come about back in August this year via a report by noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. As per DigiTimes, the new addition has come about due to demand for 10-inch and bigger tablets within the education and enterprise sector in the US.
Taiwanese supply chain makers claim that the current 9.7-inch iPad is too small and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro too expensive for the segments. Even Kuo believes Apple is planning to launch the new 10.5-inch variant in order to attract the commercial and education crowd.
Also Read: Apple offering up to Rs 23000 cashback on iPhone 7, iPad combo
The rumored 10.5-inch iPad may be powered by an A10X processor, the same SoC found in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The slate is predicted to ship two million units in Q1 2017. The number may rise to 5 – 6 million for the entire year. Sources also indicate that Apple could launch cheaper versions of the 9.7-inch iPad Pro to better compete with Android tablets.
This neatly falls in line with an earlier Barclays report. The firm expects Apple to launch 3 new tablets in March 2017 namely a 10.9-inch iPad, 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The first may feature a groundbreaking new bezel-less design, while the last could be getting refreshed with a True Tone display.