The new iPad Pro is expected later this year – here’s everything you need to know
Already this year we’ve seen one iPad release from Apple – the 9.7in sixth-generation iPad back in March, an update on the March 2017 fifth-gen model. Last June two iPad Pros (the 10.5in and 12.9in) were also released, though this year June has come and gone with no releases.
But signs are pointing towards two models of the third-generation iPad Pro being announced soon – probably before September this year. Rumours and leaks have come in dribs and drabs but there seem to be some big changes on the way.
We’ve compiled all the news so far about these third-generation iPad Pros, all in one place. Just read on to learn more about the upcoming releases.
We’ll be updating this page as and when more information emerges, so be sure to check back in to see what’s in store for the new iPad Pro.
Apple iPad Pro release date: When will it come out?
The latest iPad Pro, the second-generation model, was announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June 2017. That has come and gone this year with no announcement, but nevertheless, we might not have a long wait for the new iPad Pro.
Back in 2016, the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he would expect an iPad Pro with Face ID “in the second half of 2018”. And that prediction looks like it might come true. July 2018 saw the appearance of five regulatory filings in the Eurasian database by Apple, hinting at five new iPad models. The models – numbered A1876, A2013, A1934, A1979, A2014 – are slated to run iOS 11, meaning that the Pro should be released before the September launch of iOS 12.
Apple iPad Pro price: How much will it cost?
We have no leaks to go on here, but given the second-gen iPad Pro started at £619 for the 10.5in model and £769 for the 12.9in, we can expect a similar price point for the next Pro. Apple did bump up its UK prices after the result of the Brexit referendum in 2016 though, and prices may continue to rise if the pound continues to struggle.
Apple iPad Pro design: What will it look like?
First of all, the rumoured two new iPad Pro models will be smaller than last year’s second-gen tablets. The smaller 11in Pro (up from 10.5in last generation) will shrink from 250.6 x 174.1mm to 247.5 x 178.7mm, with the thickness reduced by 0.1mm to 6mm. Meanwhile, the 12.9in model is slated to go from 305.7 x 220.6mm to 280 x 215mm, while getting 0.5mm slimmer at a thickness of 6.4mm.
These size reports, coming from Mac Otakara, fit with their reports that Apple will go for a full redesign, slimming down the bezels. Thanks to these bezel reductions, the new iPad Pro is expected to feature larger displays despite the smaller device dimensions, a longstanding desire of Apple. The site also reports that a ‘diamond-cut’ design will feature front and back, similar to the iPhone SE.
A home button is not expected to feature, part of the move from Touch ID to Face ID as reported by Kuo. He also reported the 11in and 12.9in model sizes.
One note – the images featured in this article are concept renders based on the available leaks and rumours, as opposed to official Apple images.
Apple iPad Pro features: What will it do?
Once again, Kuo has reported that Face ID facial recognition system will be reporting Touch ID, though apparently Face ID will only work in portrait report, though some reports have conflicted with this. The new feature will be space saving, with no home button needed.
Mac Otakara reports that a front-facing TrueDepth camera will be included in order to facilitate the Face ID. The site also says that the 3.5mm headphone jack will be done away with, presumably part of a push towards wireless connectivity. AirPods and other wireless headphones work with iPads already though, so maybe the new iPad Pro will be too thin to house a 3.5mm jack.
With the Face ID reportedly not possible to unlock in landscape orientation, Mac Otakara reports that the Smart Connector will move position from the left to the bottom of the tablet. This would mean that the Smart Keyboard, for example, would also only be usable in portrait mode, which doesn’t sound ideal.
An LCD screen is a possibility but the iPad Pro could see a swap to an OLED display, like the iPhone X. As for internal specifications, well details are thin on the ground, but we can obviously expect upgrades in various departments, such as the camera, memory and storage.
Source: expertreviews.co.uk