Apple Rumored to Unveil 10.5-Inch iPad Pro at Early April Event

[MacRumors]

Apple is planning to unveil its rumored 10.5-inch iPad Pro at an event set to be held in early April to "mark the inauguration" of its Apple Park campus, reports Taiwanese site DigiTimes citing supply chain sources.

DigiTimes previously said the 10.5-inch iPad Pro would not be available until May or June, but now claims Apple has "moved ahead the production" of the rumored tablet.

Over the past few weeks, we've heard a lot of speculation about when Apple will debut the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and its sister tablet(s). Rumors originally suggested the company would hold an event in March, but that has been in question as it is nearly mid-month with no hint of an event.

Earlier today, a reliable supply chain source told MacRumors that Apple would announce products later this month, likely between Monday, March 20 and Friday, March 24. There was also a rumor circulating suggesting Apple would hold an event on April 4, but that was incorrectly based on an erroneous interpretation of Personal Pickup dates for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

While we haven't yet nailed down a specific timeline for the unveiling of new iPads, the prospective launch window is narrowing and rumors suggest we're going to see them within the next month. Just today, new iPad models were spotted in device logs gathered by Fiksu, suggesting a release is indeed on the horizon. Fiksu, like our unnamed supply chain source and DigiTimes, believes a launch is imminent.

If an event takes place in April, it could potentially be held at Apple's new campus, Apple Park, but there's one snag in that plan. Apple is going to open the campus in April, but the company's press release said the auditorium where events will be held, now dubbed the Steve Jobs Theater, will open "later this year." The wording makes it unclear if the theater will be ready for Apple Park's grand opening, and thus ready for an event.

According to today's report from DigiTimes, Apple plans to target the education and business sectors with both the rumored 10.5-inch iPad and a refreshed 12.9-inch model, which the site says will be Apple's "mainstream products" for the mid-tier to high-end tablet market in 2017.

While DigiTimes believes the 10.5-inch iPad Pro will now see an April debut, the site says the production schedule for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro "still remains unclear" with volume production perhaps delayed until May or June.

Rumors suggest that the new 12.9-inch iPad will feature a modest refresh, but the 10.5-inch model is rumored to have a nearly bezel-free edge-to-edge display and a body that's actually the same size as the existing 9.7-inch iPad Pro. There have also been rumors suggesting Apple plans to release a lower-end 9.7-inch iPad Pro and a 7.9-inch model, but whether those rumors are true remains to be seen as the focus has mainly been on Apple's larger upcoming tablets.

Article Link: Apple Rumored to Unveil 10.5-Inch iPad Pro at Early April Event

 

[farewelwilliams]

"Digitimes"


aaaaaaaand I'll skip reading this article.

 

[jclo]

"Digitimes"

aaaaaaaand I'll skip reading this article.

DigiTimes doesn't always interpret supply chain information correctly, that's true, but the information is still useful in light of other rumors, which are all solidifying around an imminent release that's set to happen in the next few weeks. When things pick up like this, it typically means we're pretty close to a launch. It's not a sure thing, of course, but it's looking like we'll see new iPads soon.

 

[btrach144]

What about the iMac and Mac Mini? iPad is dead.

 

[44267547]

DigiTimes doesn't always interpret supply chain information correctly, that's true, but the information is still useful in light of other rumors, which are all solidifying around an imminent release that's set to happen in the next few weeks. When things pick up like this, it typically means we're pretty close to a launch. It's not a sure thing, of course, but it's looking like we'll see new iPads soon.

I would agree with this. Even if Digitimes is accurate or not, it's still a rumor and A stronger indication a new iPad is arriving. I personally think the keynote will be announced next week and It's likely that we will see a New 10.5 iPad (Hopefully OLED). It Should be an interesting few weeks with the new Apple Park transition and the KeyNote.

 

[Douglas B]

Apple is going to open the campus in April, but the company's press release said the auditorium where events will be held, now dubbed the Steve Jobs Theater, will open "later this year." The wording makes it unclear if the theater will be ready for Apple Park's grand opening, and thus ready for an event.

? Not sure how it's not clear to you. It seems very clear that the Steve Jobs Theater will be ready, 'later this year' and not in April.

 

[mr.bee]

...According to today's report from DigiTimes, Apple plans to target the education and business sectors with both the rumored 10.5-inch iPad and....

For most of us, hardware is not the issue....
But it's nice to see some new iPads I guess

 

[timilner]

I agree that a 10.5 iPad is on its way but why make this their 'bezel-less flagship' iPad rather than the 12.9? Apple has historically placed a flagship status on its largest screened devices. Certainly as far as iOS devices go. With this being the case, wouldn't it make more sense to release bezel-less 10.5 and 12.9? Which pro user would sacrifice screen real estate for thin bezels? Style over substance. Thoughts?

 

[Avieshek]

The anniversary iPhone Edition has the better deal to launch the Space Campus. #Logic.

 

[MH01]

Based on the last 4 keynotes, they might as well just launch these products via online. And just have the one keynote for the iPhone .

 

[subjonas]

I'm only in the market for a new iPad mini but I'm anxious to see the entire new lineup. It should be a good indicator of the direction Apple is taking with iPads.

I'm most excited about that 128 GB iPhone SE though haha. The biggest inconvenience with my 5s has always been its paltry 64 GB storage. (Tried the big phone thing, it's not for me.)

Edit- Just occurred to me, if this radically redesigned 10.5" iPad is being released in only a month or two, shouldn't there be some part leaks by now? I'm assuming they would want to release it soon after they announce it.

 

[44267547]

Based on the last 4 keynotes, they might as well just launch these products via online. And just have the one keynote for the iPhone .

I know you're being slightly sarcastic. But that wouldn't make sense, being the iPad is set to revamp and Apple is going to boast the newest features during The KeyNote, given the millions of people tune in to Apple's keynote's. This is their opportunity twice a year to market their newest products. Quietly updating the iPad on their website would do more harm than good. And if this new iPad offers strong updates, then this would be beneficial to market it.

 

[jclo]

? Not sure how it's not clear to you. It seems very clear that the Steve Jobs Theater will be ready, 'later this year' and not in April.

Technically, April is also "later this year." I personally agree, though, that this suggests a non-April opening date for the theater.

 

[otozuz]

Wouldn't it be weird for Apple to introduce the edge-to-edge design that is expected to be a key feature of the next iPhone so long before the actual next iPhone? I'm also thinking about the removal of the Home button that could probably involve a major new build of iOS before WWDC.

 

[fokmik]

Like they did with the ipad mini,the redesign will come first with the dgpu dimensions of the 9.7" . But i hope when the redesign will happen for the 12.9" to KEEP the 12.9" display and REDUCE the overall dimensions and weight

 

[Nevaborn]

I know this site has Rumors in the name, however not every post has to be called a rumor.

This is simply an article released but Digitimes and frankly I question its legitimacy based thei "sources".

It is pretty easy to now assume and that is what I think they've done that the event will be in April seeing as we are half way in the March and there is no mention yet of an event date for the media to attend.

 

[MacHead84]

What about that rumored March event? Is that still gonna happen or...????

 

[bingeciren]

Microsoft Office 365 IS FREE when used on a device with less than 10" display. Right now, I'm using a fully functional Office 365 on my 9.7" iPad.

Office 365 will need subscription on new 10" iPads. Do people realize that?

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Let's hope this is true.

 

[sdz]

will there be a major ipad related update to ios?

 

[dooyou]

Office 365 will need subscription on new 10" iPads. Do people realize that?

I will never understand why People are spending hundreds of dollars (nearly thousand for iPad Pro) in Hardware, but if they have to pay for Software they start to cry on.

 

[Dave245]

All these different rumours make me wonder if Apple is doing this on purpose, open the flood gates with all different rumours (Apple March/April event, different iPad's and so on). At first it was going to be a March event, then there was the rumour of April. We just don't know really, Apple are moving into their new campus in April but the Steve Jobs theatre won't open until later in the year. I still think invites could go out this week, if they don't then it's very likely to be April.

 

[Di4mondz]

Yay, more iPads! Said no one ever...

 

[Dave245]

I will never understand why People are spending hundreds of dollars (nearly thousand for iPad Pro) in Hardware, but if they have to pay for Software they start to cry on.

Because that's a one off payment for the hardware, some people don't want to spend a monthly fee on software they use to be able to buy for a one off payment. Photoshop for example use to cost a couple of hundred and now it's a monthly fee basis, the same with MS word and so on.

 

[dumastudetto]

These new iPads are going to hasten the demise of "real computers". I'm expecting some incredible announcements from Apple in the next few weeks.