Apple Senior Vice-President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller speaks about the prices for iPad Pro on stage during a Special Event at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium Sept. 9, 2015 in San Francisco, California. (Photo : Getty Images/ Stephen Lam)
Apple's rumored iPad Pro 2 might have a different size compared to its predecessor. Instead of the 12.9-inch model, the Cupertino-based tech giant may release a variant sized between 10 and 10.5 inches.
There is no official announcement yet from Apple despite the supposed release of the iPad Pro 2 being delayed already. However, new reports from insider sources suggest that it might actually see the light of day in 2017.
Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has another research report that states the upcoming iPad line may see changes in sizes. There is also mention of a high-end tablet which could be the Pro line.
Ming-Chi Kuo wrote in the report obtained by Mac Rumors that the iPad Pro 2 could have a screen size between 10 and 10.5-inches with a narrow bezel design. There will also be a 9.7-inch variant which is expected to have a lower price.
"Although we estimate iPad shipments in 2017 will drop again YoY to 35-37mn units, we except the decline to narrow to 10% from 2016's roughly 20%, given that the 10-10.5" model may see more demand from commercial/enterprises and tender markets," the report read.
Apple may also find it hard to sell the iPad Pro 2 as a tablet only as the mobile market is being flooded with 2-in-1 solutions, WCCFTech reported. The Surface Pro 5 is also expected to be unveiled and released this year which may give consumers an option against the iPad Pro 2.
If that is the case, the tech giant may need to include mouse and keyboard support for the new tablet. Imitating the design of the hybrid tablets such as the new Samsung Chromebook Pro may be a bad move for Apple but they do have little choice.
Apple may unveil the new iPad Pro 2 models or iPad Air 2017 variants in their own press event. Mobile World Congress 2017 could be reserved for the Android products.
Learn more about the iPad Pro 2 in the video below:
