Rumour: Apple to Launch 9.7-Inch iPad Pro, Not iPad Air, in March,

[Maura]

According to a report on 9to5 Mac today, Apple is not in fact planning to launch a new iPad Air tablet at its forthcoming event on March 15, but, rather, it intends to expand the iPad Pro line by releasing a 9.7-inch iPad Pro. The theory goes that just as Apple has the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro versions, it wants to also have two different-sized versions of the iPad Pro.

9to5 Mac says that it has heard from its sources that the smaller iPad Pro will have very similar specs to the 12.9-inch model, including the A9X processor. It will also use the 12.9-inch display technology to enable use of the Apple Pencil with the device.

And, along with the recently reported addition of a Smart Connector, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro will have a smaller version of the Smart Keyboard cover, which is also due to be available in March.

It is thought that the new iPad Pro will be available to buy as soon as March 18.

Source: Apple to launch 9.7-inch iPad Pro, not Air 3; Smart Keyboard & Apple Pencil support likely

 

[giradman]

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According to a report on 9to5 Mac today, Apple is not in fact planning to launch a new iPad Air tablet at its forthcoming event on March 15, but, rather, it intends to expand the iPad Pro line by releasing a 9.7-inch iPad Pro. The theory goes that just as Apple has the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro versions, it wants to also have two different-sized versions of the iPad Pro.

So, now we'll have an iPad Pro Mini? Dave

 

[scifan57]

And if they made an iPad Pro the size of the iPad mini would it be called the iPad Pro Mini Mini?

 

[giradman]

And if they made an iPad Pro the size of the iPad mini would it be called the iPad Pro Mini Mini?

Well, how about iPad Pro Micro?

 

[scifan57]

Well, how about iPad Pro Micro?

That would be for something the size of an iPod.

 

[chowdown]

This is really just fiddling around with names, as is Apple's wont. Agreed?

 

[twerppoet]

This is really just fiddling around with names, as is Apple's wont. Agreed?

Maybe. It could also be an indication that Apple intends to clearly split the iPad lineup into two tiers, much like the MacBook and MacBook Pro. This wouldn't be a split in size so much as a split in internals and extra hardware features. For instance the Non-Pro line up may not get the 4 GB of RAM and Pencil. The pricing would probably be continuoius with some ovelap between the highest cost iPads Airs and lowest cost iPad Pros (as it already is).

 

[scifan57]

Maybe. It could also be an indication that Apple intends to clearly split the iPad lineup into two tiers, much like the MacBook and MacBook Pro. This wouldn't be a split in size so much as a split in internals and extra hardware features. For instance the Non-Pro line up may not get the 4 GB of RAM and Pencil. The pricing would probably be continuoius with some ovelap between the highest cost iPads Airs and lowest cost iPad Pros (as it already is).

It's only a few weeks until we'll know for sure about these latest rumours.