iOS 9 Code Suggests 12.93-Inch 'iPad Pro' Could Have 2732×2048 Display

[MacRumors]

Taiwanese iOS developer Hiraku Wang has shared further iOS 9 beta code (via Steven Troughton-Smith) that suggests the 12.9-inch "iPad Pro" could have a 2,732×2,048 pixels display at 264 PPI based on Apple's @2x high-resolution modifier. The findings corroborate a DisplaySearch report from last January, in which the research firm said that Apple had a tablet display with a resolution of 2,732×2,048 pixels and 265 PPI under development.

Apple's existing lineup of iPads with Retina displays, ranging from the third-generation iPad to iPad Air 2, each have 9.7-inch screens at 264 PPI, so it would make sense that the larger 12.9-inch "iPad Pro" would have a scaled up resolution with the same pixel density. Specifically, a 2,732×2,048 display with 264 PPI points towards an approximately 12.93" diagonal screen size. As a @2x display, this would represent 1,366x1,024 points as shown in the onscreen dimensions for the keyboard.

And from keyboard size we can know that "iPad pro" is 1366x1024 (maybe @2x) pic.twitter.com/VYlkXiWHVa - ?????? (@hirakujira) June 15, 2015

Earlier today, iOS developer Steven Troughton-Smith discovered that the new iPad keyboard on iOS 9 beta is capable of scaling to a larger size with rearranged keys, providing further evidence that Apple could be planning to release the much-rumored 12.9-inch "iPad Pro" in the future. The A9-based tablet is rumored to feature a flexible display with increased pressure sensitivity, built-in NFC chip, Force Touch, USB-C port and possibly a pressure-sensitive Bluetooth stylus.

Article Link: iOS 9 Code Suggests 12.93-Inch 'iPad Pro' Could Have 2732×2048 Display

 

[JonneyGee]

Why is the iPad Pro rumored to include an NFC chip? Using an iPad Pro for Apple Pay would be even more cumbersome than the smaller iPad sizes. If this rumor is true, hopefully it means Apple is planning to allow developers to access the NFC chip!

 

[farewelwilliams]

Ugh, new aspect ratio. terrible news for developers. But then again, the new multitasking features forces developers to test your auto layout in multiple aspect ratios for the iPad anyways.

 

[AngerDanger]

The A9-based tablet is rumored to feature a flexible display with increased pressure sensitivity, built-in NFC chip, Force Touch, USB-C port and possibly a pressure-sensitive Bluetooth stylus.

I can't read that without imagining:

Ugh, new aspect ratio. terrible news for developers. But then again, the new multitasking features forces developers to test your auto layout in multiple aspect ratios for the iPad anyways.

It's the same aspect ratio. Whoops, just compared it to the current iPads' resolutions, and they are different.

 

[mysterydate]

Full of want for a pressure sensitive tablet that I can use a stylus with.

 

[redheeler]

It's the same aspect ratio.

No, not quite.

 

[sniffies]

I hope it's called iPad Fudge.

 

[Traverse]

You know, I shouldn't say this because I know there are forum members here who are looking forward to this iPad Pro, but I'll hate it when it's announced. Now Apple will reserve features that would work perfectly fine on the others to try and push consumers toward this new model.

For example, that new keyboard that was mentioned earlier today. That would be fine a 9.7" display, but would probably be limited to ONLY the large Pro. I don't know why Apple can't create largely the same product and let consumers pick.

Another example, if this Pro does exist I'll bet it is the only iPad that gets an active digitizer. :/

 

[ActionableMango]

That's an awful lot of pixels to push for a mobile device.

 

[teslo]

You know, I shouldn't say this because I know there are forum members here who are looking forward to this iPad Pro, but I'll hate it when it's announced. Now Apple will reserve features that would work perfectly fine on the others to try and push consumers toward this new model.

For example, that new keyboard that was mentioned earlier today. That would be fine a 9.7" display, but would probably be limited to ONLY the large Pro. I don't know why Apple can't create largely the same product and let consumers pick.

Another example, if this Pro does exist I'll bet it is the only iPad that gets an active digitizer. :/

having that big a chassis means much bigger battery, meaning some of the intensive things it will be able to do won't necessarily be achievable with the 9" iPad..

otherwise, it's purely speculation on your part - admittedly based somewhat on the iPhone 6+ and its proprietary features, but i'd be a little less cynical guessing about those specifics, myself. i could see the numbers top row being ios9 universal. judging by 3rd party keyboards, it's something iPhone users want and use.

good to see 2 iPad pro rumors today though. only been waiting and waiting 5 years...

 

[redheeler]

I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of apps running on this like a giant iPad Air 2 for a while, just like what happened to the 6+.

 

[subjonas]

Ugh, new aspect ratio. terrible news for developers. But then again, the new multitasking features forces developers to test your auto layout in multiple aspect ratios for the iPad anyways.

It's the same aspect ratio. I just looked at the resolutions of the current iPads, and they differ from the dimensions that would need to be doubled to get this new screen; this is a new aspect ratio.

No, not quite.

What's going on here? Why would Apple make it so close to 4:3 but not exactly? What does this mean in regards to existing iPad apps running on this?

 

[D.T.]

No, not quite.

Yeah, I mean it calculates out (without rounding 1.33:1) to a difference of 0.0006510417, so mathematically different, but I don't think effectively different.

 

[Sirious]

How do I go about seeing this code for myself? Is it possible?

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Amazing!

Text will be awesomely crisp. And watching video will be seriously immersive. What's the equivalent tv screen size of a 13" iPad held at arm's length? Must be pretty big. Watching Supernatural and The Walking Dead on my 10" iPad is scary enough.

 

[v1597psh]

Guys! Take your calculators and do a very simple math: make a ratio of a current iPad resolution (divide 2048 by 1536). Do the same thing for this rumoured resolution and you'll get almost the same answer. That means iPad Pro will have the same aspect ratio

 

[dumastudetto]

iPad Pro = gamechanger.

 

[SgtPepper12]

Well, that resolution smells awfully like they are planning to do some kind of letterbox legacy mode (like back when they introduced the iPhone 5). But that would leave a lot of space empty, so I guess not. Still, makes me wonder why Apple chooses to use these weird resolution. It's not even legitimate 4:3 (It's half a pixel too tall).

 

[DTphonehome]

Why is the iPad Pro rumored to include an NFC chip? Using an iPad Pro for Apple Pay would be even more cumbersome than the smaller iPad sizes. If this rumor is true, hopefully it means Apple is planning to allow developers to access the NFC chip!

You could potentially accept payments from a phone on the iPad, making it a great point-of-sale system.

 

[Klatti]

Why is the iPad Pro rumored to include an NFC chip? Using an iPad Pro for Apple Pay would be even more cumbersome than the smaller iPad sizes. If this rumor is true, hopefully it means Apple is planning to allow developers to access the NFC chip!

I think it's needed for the save enclosure to allow apple pay within apps using Touch ID.

 

[ChrisCW11]

Still at a loss as why Apple needs iPad Pro. I mean the tablet market in general has declined and what "professionals" are preferring today are hybrid devices like Surface Pro and detachable laptop touch screens. Not sure Apple truly understands that a tablet only with "casual" business applications may not be enough to kick start iPad sales again. I think Apple discriminating against hybrid devices is another poor decision that will come back to haunt them when their customer base demands an Mac Air hybrid with removable touch screen.

Apple seems to think professionals just want a bigger tablet screen, but professionals want to run REAL applications on a device that isn't based on a phone processor that can also double as a tablet when the need arises. Professionals don't want a backpack full of devices to choose from.

In this respect Microsoft was way more forward thinking then Apple. Merging their kernels into one universal OS will clearly cater to more products that professionals want, while Apple continues to fragment their OS for a bunch of add-on devices.

 

[MikhailT]

Still at a loss as why Apple needs iPad Pro. I mean the tablet market in general has declined and what "professionals" are preferring today are hybrid devices like Surface Pro and detachable laptop touch screens. Not sure Apple truly understands that a tablet only with "casual" business applications may not be enough to kick start iPad sales again. I think Apple discriminating against hybrid devices is another poor decision that will come back to haunt them when their customer base demands an Mac Air hybrid with removable touch screen.

Apple seems to think professionals just want a bigger tablet screen, but professionals want to run REAL applications on a device that isn't based on a phone processor that can also double as a tablet when the need arises. Professionals don't want a backpack full of devices to choose from.

In this respect Microsoft was way more forward thinking then Apple. Merging their kernels into one universal OS will clearly cater to more products that professionals want, while Apple continues to fragment their OS for a bunch of add-on devices.

For all intents and purposes, the device doesn't exist. So, what's the point of worrying about what Apple's thinking here? Let Apple explain the purpose when it is out.

Oh by the way, iOS, OS X and watchOS all share the same kernel just like Microsoft. Don't confuse the top levels of the OS as the kernel.

 

[Rogifan]

Still at a loss as why Apple needs iPad Pro. I mean the tablet market in general has declined and what "professionals" are preferring today are hybrid devices like Surface Pro and detachable laptop touch screens. Not sure Apple truly understands that a tablet only with "casual" business applications may not be enough to kick start iPad sales again. I think Apple discriminating against hybrid devices is another poor decision that will come back to haunt them when their customer base demands an Mac Air hybrid with removable touch screen.

Apple seems to think professionals just want a bigger tablet screen, but professionals want to run REAL applications on a device that isn't based on a phone processor that can also double as a tablet when the need arises. Professionals don't want a backpack full of devices to choose from.

In this respect Microsoft was way more forward thinking then Apple. Merging their kernels into one universal OS will clearly cater to more products that professionals want, while Apple continues to fragment their OS for a bunch of add-on devices.

You're making some broad generalizations here. What "professionals" are you referring to? It's not like the surface Pro has been lighting the world on fire in terms of sales. And iPad is still huge in enterprise.

 

[Aluminum213]

A tablet that big defeats the portability of the iPad, might as well get a 13" MacBook

 

[teslo]

A tablet that big defeats the portability of the iPad, might as well get a 13" MacBook

can't draw on the screen. and 13" isn't portable?