New 11-Inch iPad Case Found at Target as Rumors Swirl About Upcoming Refresh

[MacRumors]

With rumors swirling about an upcoming iPad Pro refresh, which may be announced as part of an alleged Apple Event on Tuesday, March 23, it appears that at least one accessory maker has already started preparing.

A photo shared on Reddit today shows what appears to be a Speck folio that is listed as being compatible with an as-yet-unannounced 2021 model of an 11-inch iPad, in addition to the 11-inch iPad Pro and the 10.9-inch iPad Air. The user who submitted the photo said they found the folio on the shelf at Target, but when they attempted to purchase it, the checkout system said the item cannot be sold until April 6.

The packaging does not explicitly mention that the new 11-inch iPad is a Pro model, but that is almost certainly the device this would be referring to, as no other upcoming iPad is rumored to sport an 11-inch display. The ninth-generation iPad, for example, is rumored to feature a 10.5-inch display like the third-generation iPad Air.

While it is hard to draw any firm conclusions from photos like these, it is possible that Speck has learned that the next 11-inch iPad Pro will have very similar to identical dimensions as the current model. This wouldn't be too surprising, as there haven't been any rumors of a major redesign for the next iPad Pro, with key new features expected to include a Mini-LED display, faster A14X chip, and 5G support on cellular models.

We wouldn't read too much into Target's alleged April 6 on-sale date for the Speck folio either, but it's at least within the ballpark of the late March to early April timeframe for the next iPad Pro update that was reported by DigiTimes earlier today.

Interestingly, most rumors have only mentioned a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro and not an 11-inch model, but the devices are usually updated simultaneously. March is a common month for Apple to announce new or updated products, with other rumored products including the long-awaited AirTags, a new Apple TV, new AirPods, and more Apple silicon Macs.

Apple last updated its iPad Pro lineup in March 2020 with a marginally improved A12Z chip, an Ultra Wide camera, a LiDAR Scanner, and better sounding microphones.

(Thanks, Greg!)

Article Link: New 11-Inch iPad Case Found at Target as Rumors Swirl About Upcoming Refresh

 

[efktd]

2021 is going to be expensive!

 

[Veeper]

iPad. Not pro. Even the pic says iPad.

 

[zwida]

It seems to suggest a new 11" iPad, but unless I'm missing something on the packaging, the only reference to the iPad Pro 11" is for the 2018-2020 model.

 

[zwida]

iPad. Not pro. Even the pic says iPad.

I'm with Veeper.

 

[Pumapayam]

iPad. Not pro. Even the pic says iPad.

You beat me to it. Was going to say the name. This is an entry level iPad.

 

[MacBird]

When was the last time Apple didn't release new iPad Pros in March?

 

[Veeper]

When was the last time Apple didn't release new iPad Pros in March?

This March.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

This is going to be an expensive year ugh!!!

Will order...

New iPhone 12S Pro Max 1TB
New Titanium or Ceramic Apple watch
New MacBook Pro 16 Inch

More things to order laterrrr ughhh

 

[macsareveryinteresting]

Apple‘s releasing hints. I feel products coming.

 

[ian87w]

Wait, it just says new iPad 11" 2021. It didn't indicate Pro.

So my guess is Apple will streamline the design, making the base iPad the same design as the iPad Air 4. It fits the whole lineup with the iPhone 12 as well.

So redesigned base iPad, and probably the mini as well, spelling the death of Apple Pencil 1.

This also means the iPad Pro will have a redesign, that won't have the same dimensions as the current iPad Pro/Air 4.

 

[satchmo]

Why would a product be on the floor if it can’t be sold for almost another month?
That part of the story seems made up.

 

[ian87w]

Why would a product be on the floor if it can’t be sold for almost another month?
That part of the story seems made up.

This things happened in retail. A possible scenario, a manager saw a pile of stuff sitting in the backroom, and without checking, ask the employees to put them on the shelf.

Fun for us though.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

iPad. Not pro. Even the pic says iPad.

It seems to suggest a new 11" iPad, but unless I'm missing something on the packaging, the only reference to the iPad Pro 11" is for the 2018-2020 model.

Wait, it just says new iPad 11" 2021. It didn't indicate Pro.

So my guess is Apple will streamline the design, making the base iPad the same design as the iPad Air 4. It fits the whole lineup with the iPhone 12 as well.

So redesigned base iPad, and probably the mini as well, spelling the death of Apple Pencil 1.

This also means the iPad Pro will have a redesign, that won't have the same dimensions as the current iPad Pro/Air 4.

Yeah… I'm an idiot. I totally thought it said Pro.

That said, I've added this paragraph that thankfully saves my ass:

"While the packaging does not explicitly mention that the new 11-inch iPad is a Pro model, that is almost certainly the device this would be referring to, as no other upcoming iPad is rumored to sport an 11-inch display. The ninth-generation iPad, for example, is rumored to feature a 10.5-inch display like the third-generation iPad Air."

 

[ANDJOE]

When was the last time Apple didn't release new iPad Pros in March?

2018

 

[sw1tcher]

Why would a product be on the floor if it can’t be sold for almost another month?
That part of the story seems made up.

Silly that it can't be sold when it also works for the iPad Air 2020 and iPad Pro 11" (2018-2020).

Whatevers.

 

[EugW]

Since when does Speck get advance notice? AFAIK, it's like never.

At best, they are guessing. But if it is a guess, it doesn't even quite make sense to me, given that it's an a non-Pro non-Air 11" iPad.

 

[Pupi]

Obviously, if it meant iPad Pro, that compatibility line would have been bundled with iPad Pro 11” and say “2018-2021” instead. How can you possibly misinterpret that??

edit: ok a misread. No big deal. Should own better to it though. Just be explicit and transparent about what it suggests as a rumor, instead of dismissing it based on existing rumors.

 

[ElBerserko]

Wait, it just says new iPad 11" 2021. It didn't indicate Pro.

So my guess is Apple will streamline the design, making the base iPad the same design as the iPad Air 4. It fits the whole lineup with the iPhone 12 as well.

This has to be for the Pro. Why would the "entry level" iPad be 11 inches when the Air is 10.9? What a confusing lineup that would be... They all have the same body, but the Air is 10.9 inches with an A14 and the "NEW iPad" is 11 inches and has an A14X? A12X? A12? Not to mention they already refreshed the base iPad recently.

 

[coachingguy]

This things happened in retail. A possible scenario, a manager saw a pile of stuff sitting in the backroom, and without checking, ask the employees to put them on the shelf.

Fun for us though.

And it does say it’ll work older models that ARE being sold...

 

[dannyyankou]

So the new entry level iPad will probably have the same physical dimensions as the 11” air and pro, but be more bezely

 

[NIKKG]

Maybe they are finally dumping the old ipad style and going for the Pro/Air look. It’ll probably have a slower processor and lower storage and I’m sure cheaper components than the Pro to differentiate.

 

[HiVolt]

I hope at some point Apple will release a 12.9 non pro iPad. My mom loves her 2017 iPad Pro, I bought that for her refurbished a few years ago, but it will likely be obsoleted within the next couple years.

The new iPad Pro's are bloody expensive. She doesn't need a Pro. Just likes the screen size.

 

[ian87w]

This has to be for the Pro. Why would the "entry level" iPad be 11 inches when the Air is 10.9? What a confusing lineup that would be... They all have the same body, but the Air is 10.9 inches with an A14 and the "NEW iPad" is 11 inches and has an A14X? A12X? A12? Not to mention they already refreshed the base iPad recently.

The 11" part could be just a round up to make it easy.
The base iPad got refreshed with an A12, true, but the chip was literally the only component that got updated. The rest are still old, it still even only has Bluetooth 4.2. With newer things requiring newer wireless components (eg. Airtags), it wouldn't surprise me that Apple will want their whole lineup to be up to date. And it could be that manufacturing the new design is now cheap enough for Apple.

Or for all we know, since the iPad Air 4 was increased in price to $599, this new iPad 11" will be at the $499 price slot.

 

[ian87w]

Maybe they are finally dumping the old ipad style and going for the Pro/Air look. It’ll probably have a slower processor and lower storage and I’m sure cheaper components than the Pro to differentiate.

And the death of Apple Pencil 1, if Apple would refresh the mini as well.