According to tech insider KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is preparing three new iPad models for spring 2017 – a new iPad Pro 2 with a 12.9-inch display, an entry-level iPad with a 9.7-inch display and a new iPad Pro with a slightly larger 10.5-inch display, which is a new size offering among Apple’s range of iPad tablets.
Details are still scarce at this time, but it’s interesting to see what sort of design the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro will bring. 9to5 Mac reports it’s possible the new device could feature a sleek edge-to-edge display to retain identical dimensions with the 9.7-inch. On the other hand, Phone Arena believes the 10.5-inch iPad will actually be physically larger than the 9.7-inch device. Either way, Apple will have to be creative with the packaging – the entire iPad Pro lineup is expected to feature a quad-speaker/quad-mic setup as well as 3.5mm headphone jacks, a 12-MP rear camera and a Smart Keyboard add-on for all Pro sizes.
While the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2 and 10.5-inch iPad Pro are expected to run on a powerful Apple A10X chip, the low-cost 9.7-inch iPad is expected to carry over the A9X chip used on the current range of iPads. Pricing on the entry-level 9.7-inch iPad has not been reported at this point. The 9.7-inch iPad Air 2 is currently for sale for $399.
But what about the smaller iPad models? According to Japanese tech blog Makotakara, via 9to5 Mac, the iPad mini 4 will become the 7.9-inch iPad Pro. As a new member of the Pro lineup, it will also receive a quad-speaker setup, 12-MP rear camera, as well as a Smart Connector for an add-on keyboard.
Finally, what will the feature of the iPad hold? Kuo also hints the 2018 iPad could have a flexible OLED screen, which stands to dramatically change the iPad's design and interface.
