“Apple’s prepping to release a revamped ‘iPad Pro’ with a slimmer bezel and no home button and the ‘Face ID’ function in the June-ending quarter, according to a note this morning from Rosenblatt analyst Jun Zhang,” Tiernan Ray reports for Barron’s. “He’s modeling ‘total iPad production to be between 16-18 million units, with 6-8 million iPad Pro models likely implementing 3D sensing functionality in the June quarter… Our research suggests the new iPad should be ready for mass production with a release date likely in late-Q2.'”
“Zhang also thinks the same quarter may see a smaller version of Apple’s ‘HomePod’ smart speaker, though he doesn’t offer a time frame for such a device,” Ray reports. “‘Apple’s HomePod sales are on track to meet Apple’s 5 million unit target,’ he writes. ‘If released, we believe a lower-end HomePod model could help Apple further penetrate the low-end smart speaker market possibly later this year.”‘”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Bring it on and spare us the kludgey you-know-what, please! Just put it in the bezel where it belongs.
SEE ALSO:
Next-gen iPad Pro models likely to feature extremely powerful octa-core Apple A11X Bionic – November 15, 2017
Apple’s next-gen iPad Pro slated to get redesign with Face ID capability, next-gen Apple Pencil support – November 8, 2017
Will I have to flop my iPad into portrait orientation to unlock with Face ID?
Exactly my concern.
Still thrilled and happy with the last gen 10.5″ 512Gb iPad Pro which fills all my needs beautifully and doesn’t feel to have slowed down a bit. Won’t need replacing for a couple more years. (Hopefully no Ninotchkas on the new iPad Pro though.)
And thanks to my ACPP+ that just expired in February, I received a brand new Gen 1 iPad Pro 12.9” because my original 2016 iPad’s battery wouldn’t hold a charge. It was like getting a new iPad Pro for free and good for an additional two years. As my iPhone 7+ is still under its ACPP+ for seven more months, I’m now off now to AT&T for my second Apple Watch, this time a 42 mm Stainless Steel Series 3 model. All things are good in my household.