Apple Planning Thicker Bezel-Free 10.5" iPad Pro With 9.7" Footprint and No Home Button [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Apple has a nearly bezel-free 10.9-inch iPad Pro under development without a Home button, according to Japanese website Mac Otakara.

The report said the nearly bezel-free design will allow for the 10.9-inch model to have the same overall footprint as the current 9.7-inch iPad Pro. A top bezel will remain in order to provide space for the front-facing FaceTime camera, but the bottom bezel will be reduced, according to supply chain sources cited.

The much-rumored 10.9-inch model will also be marginally thicker at 7.5mm, the same depth as the original iPad Air. The current 9.7-inch iPad Pro measures 6.1mm thick. The next 12.9-inch model will also be 0.3mm thicker at 7.2mm, while a rumored 7.9-inch iPad Pro will allegedly likely have the same dimensions as the iPad mini 4.

Earlier this month, a group of Barclays analysts said Apple will launch a trio of new iPad Pro models in March, including the aforementioned bezel-free 10.9-inch model and refreshed 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch versions. The note likewise said the 10.9-inch model will have a 9.7-inch footprint without a Home button.

Multiple rumors have pointed towards a new iPad in the 10-inch range, but the exact screen size has varied in each report. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said 10.5 inches, echoed by DigiTimes, while an earlier Mac Otakara report said 10.1 inches. Mac Otakara and Barclays now appear to agree on 10.9 inches.

Mac Otakara previously said the 10.9-inch iPad Pro will feature quad microphones, compared to the dual-microphone setup on existing iPad Pro models, and retain a 3.5mm headphone jack. More "revolutionary" changes, including a switch to OLED displays, are expected in 2018, according to Kuo.

Update: At some point after publishing its article, Mac Otakara has changed "10.9-inch iPad Pro" to "10.5-inch iPad Pro," which is the more agreed upon display size for the rumored tablet.

Article Link: Apple Planning Thicker Bezel-Free 10.5" iPad Pro With 9.7" Footprint and No Home Button [Updated]

 

[Appleaker]

I'm glad the extra thickness will get rid of the camera bump.

But I can imagine the 10.9" iPad would be a pain to use, even with palm rejection.

 

[iapplelove]

My original iPad Air bought on day one could use an upgrade. And this will fit just nicely

 

[polee]

Well I will be interested to get this, especially if it comes without a home button. Less likely for repairs in the later years arising from a faulty mechanical home button...

 

[KPOM]

Very interesting rumor. At 10.5" they could cram the same resolution as the 12.9" model with the DPI of the current iPad Mini 4. I wonder what they'd do at 10.9".

 

[Lusitano]

No Home Button and probably no headphone jack, and the already removed the lock/unlock Switch. What will they remove next?

 

[chrismail627]

If they do this, they should just get rid of the 9.7" model IMO..

 

[ilian92]

Well I will be interested to get this, especially if it comes without a home button. Less like for repairs in the later years arising from a faulty mechanical home button...

Because the home button fails on 9/10 Apple devices. It's so much better to accidentally 'tap' the screen wrong.

 

[Menneisyys2]

hope they alao come up with an iPad Pro 12.9" - bezel-free. Love my 12.9"

 

[Mac-a-licious]

Find it hard to believe they would keep the 3.5mm audio jack whilst making it thicker. They usually try to create consistency across product lines when a new technology/design is implemented.

 

[CaneCollegeboy]

Because the home button fails on 9/10 Apple devices. It's so much better to accidentally 'tap' the screen wrong.

Did you make that up? Ive never had a home button fail and ive had more than a dozen apple products so far.

 

[svenning]

0.3mm thicker!!! Ive is going to get a heart attack when he finds out

 

[kemal]

It will be tough to sell new iPads until they find a way to obsolete iPad Air 2s.

 

[profets]

Ugh, the iPad Air 2 and 9.7" Pro feel amazing to hold at the 6.1mm thinness. I can't imagine going back to the Air thickness of 7.5mm

This whole lineup is starting to sound so strange.

I'm hoping for a decent update to the 12.9" if anything. Having used a 9.7" Pro quite heavily since March, I'm always feeling like I want more screen real estate now.

 

[citysnaps]

Because the home button fails on 9/10 Apple devices. It's so much better to accidentally 'tap' the screen wrong.

Of course you have a source for that claim, right? Post it up.

 

[aaronhead14]

I'm glad Apple has decided to not worry about its thickness. Because the thinness of our products is the LEAST thing we care about.

 

[maflynn]

WOW, color me surprised. Apple will roll out a thicker product. I'm happy they're going that way, the camera bump is horrible.

 

[kazmac]

So, say this is actually true and the 10.9 has the "footprint" of the 9.7; then why are they not continuing with the Mini and keeping the 9.7?

 

[Derekuda]

The no home button rumor has been going for 5 years now. Any time there is a rumor with it, it's instantly a trash source IMO. Sure, it may happen someday, but until i see an actual leaked photo, all these rumors sites can go blow sand.

 

[pat500000]

So the rumor is they are suppose to release Mac Pro with iPads....hopefully.

 

[TheHorrorNerd]

Headline :
"Apple Planning Thicker Bezel-Free 10.9" iPad Pro With 9.7" Footprint and No Home Button"

A top bezel will remain in order to provide space for the front-facing FaceTime camera, but the bottom bezel will be reduced, according to supply chain sources cited.

How is this, by any stretch of the imagination "bezel-free?"

 

[TheHateMachine]

"Apple Planning Thicker iPad"

Hahahaha, good one.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Hey, gotta save something for the 2nd gen, right?

 

[melendezest]

Can someone explain to me what makes an iPad "Pro"?

I'm honestly curious on the facts here, because none of the rumored changes (nor the current specs) seem to.

 

[macduke]

Thicker? How will any bag accommodate such a device? This is madness and a sign of the end! /s