With the iPad Pro, Apple broke the 10 plus inch barrier, releasing a tablet that can compete with the Surface Pro. The 12.9-inch device managed to interest new users, keeping the iPad sales relatively high, mostly thanks to its large screen, and stylus support. The iPad Pro 2 didn’t land this year (we only saw the 9.7-inch version of iPad Pro back in March) but many believe Apple will present the next model during 2017. Let’s see what things could get upgraded and what the main differences between the iPad Pro and iPad Pro 2 will be.
Design Upgrades
The original iPad Pro came in two versions – 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch, with both of them looking very similar to the iPad Air, without many design changes. Not that any changes were required since the iPad already featured a perfect design for a tablet device. Quality chassis, lots of room for holding the device, and the back camera placed on the upper left part of the backside. No redundant details, no crazy new features, the iPad Pro looks quite good. The upcoming iPad Pro 2 should keep the classic iPad design philosophy, with the biggest novelty being a new color. Since the new MacBook models, as well as iPhones, come in Rose Gold, it is logical to think that Apple will offer iPad Pro 2 in Rose Gold.
Other upgrades could include a slimmer design and a lack of headphone jack. 3D Touch feature, making the screen pressure-sensitive should be incorporated into the new iPad Pro generation, since it is featured on the iPhone ever since the iPhone 6S. The physical Home button could get replaced with the pressure-sensitive home button, a new feature that debuted with the iPhone 7.
Hardware Upgrades
The Apple Pencil could become more precise, and easier to work with. Some reports, like the one coming from Ming-Chi Kuo, a trustworthy market analyst, suggest that Apple could reveal three iPad Pro 2 models (9.7-inch, 10.5-inch, and the 12.9-inch). The upcoming tablet should keep the current screen resolution of the iPad Pro, 2048 x 2732 pixels for the 12.9-inch version and 1536 x 2048 pixels for the 9.7-inch version. The 10.5-inch iPad Pro 2 should sport a resolution that will keep the same density (264 ppi pixel density) of the other two versions.
A new screen type could debut with the iPad Pro 2. Instead of IPS LCD screen, the upcoming tablet device could feature AMOLED display; a highly possible move, since the iPhone 8 should also sport an AMOLED display, with True Tone (better color reproduction) and faster response time, one feature that can be found in the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which got released in March 2016.
Specs could get greatly upgraded. The rumored A10X processor (the first Apple processor to be made in the 10nm production process) could power the iPad Pro 2, with the tablet being equipped with 4 GB of RAM. The storage should stay the same (32/128/256 GB options with Wi-FI models, 128/256 GB options for the Wi-Fi + cellular models).
Other notable hardware upgrades should include a 12 MP main camera (the iPad Pro ships with an 8 MP one), a 5 MP front-facing camera (up from the 1.2 MP one featured in the iPad Pro), 4K video shooting capability, better Apple Pencil support, and better keyboard docks. While the keyboard dock for the 12.9-inch model is excellent, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro suffered from smaller keys, making typing rather difficult.
Release Date, Pricing
The iPad Pro 2 could be released either during March 2017 or during September 2017. It is highly possible for Apple to release upgraded 12.9-inch and 9.7-inch models during March, and then reveal the new 10.5-inch model in September 2017.
The pricing should stay the same with the models costing between $799 (32 GB Wi-Fi only iPad Pro 12.9-inch) and $1229 (256 GB Wi-Fi plus cellular 12.9-inch model).
What do you think; will Apple release the new iPad Pro during March? Will there be a 10.5-inch model? Will iPad Pro feature a Mini version? Let us know in the comment section below.