“In a new report out this morning from noted analyst Ming-Chi Quo at KGI Securities, we find the size of the new iPad form factor, expected in Q2 still in flux indicating that Apple may still be deciding between different sizes,” Seth Weintraub reports for 9to5Mac.
The new models will come in 12.9-inch, 10-10.5-inch and 9.7-inch versions. We note the 12.9-inch model will be the second generation of the existing 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the 10-10.5-inch model will be the high-end model equipped with a narrow bezel design, and the 9.7-inch model will be the low-priced option. The former two models will have an A10X chip manufactured by TSMC, while the latter comes with an A9 chip made by Samsung LSI. — Ming-Chi Quo, KGI Securities
“Mac Otakara has predicted similar sized iPads in the same time period but their estimates are the screen can grow to be as big as 10.9-inches,” Weintraub reports. “These larger screens will likely be in the same or similar sized enclosures as the current 9.7-inch iPads. Meanwhile the Samsung processor/display 9.7-inch iPads will likely be low-end legacy models.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Significantly larger displays in similar enclosures to the current 9.7-inch model will be a big improvement. That 10 – 10.5 – 10.9-inch model is very, very intriguing. We hope Apple takes a hard look at iPad pricing and makes them a little bit more accessible to upper middle end tablet buyers as the company would be able to make more money in the long run via Services if they could just get iPads into the hands of more users, especially millions who are almost sold, but balking at the current prices. And “affordable” 9.7-inch model would go a long way toward recapturing the elusive iPad growth.
You should be able to buy a 10.5″ iPad with WiFi, cellular and 128Gb minimum for $699-749. (But that’s not gonna happen.)
Why not? That would be the current slot occupied by the 9.7 iPad Pro, And not that much different from current pricing. If they were to axe the iPad mini, or keep the mini 4 and make it then the new 9.7 would be in at 369/399, the 10.5 at 569/599, and the 12.9 at 699/799. I don’t know if there’s anything they can do about the 129 they charge for cellular, since that’s their deal with the carriers and the non cellular models don’t have a gps module, but if they came it at those price points and were still 32-128-256 that would only be $50 off your target… that seems possible.
I meant 229/249 for iPad mini 4
I was hoping for some new iPad minis. Oh well.
I have seen the mini used in restaurants lately. Small mom and pop, not big ones. I like how the credit card never leaves your sight. ( To European readers that is still something rare over here, I know you have had it before this century.). Our election board uses them to check in people. It has one of the best handwriting for signatures I’ve seen. I think Apple has dropped something that could be great, not their first time.
Every single iPad across the board should support the Apple Pen[cil].
More importantly all the core iOS apps should have pencil integration.
Particularly Pages – for manuscript edits , annotation and diagrams
-just as you can do with a physical page and a pencil.
That might just be the tipping point for the whole tablet market + pencil
What about the phone? Couldn’t hurt…..??
Wouldn’t it be awesome if Apple delivered Mac displays in 3 sizes too? 24″, 27″, and 32″ perhaps?
I agree, everyone in our office uses an iMac 27″ and has a second 27″ monitor. A couple of us splurged for the 27″ apple monitor, which help make things look a bit more uniform, but they are clearly yestertech as they are much thicker. An update (that wasn’t 3x the price of a decent competitor) would be great. I also was puzzled at how the monitors did not match up to the height of the iMac….there should be a ready way to have the monitors match in height if they ever make them again.