Not much is known about Apple’s upcoming new tablet yet, and even its name is being questioned by people who’ve been following rumors about the device closely. Some reports have named the new tablet the “iPad Pro”, while others claim that it will be a new Air, called the “iPad Air Plus”. However, most reports seem to at least agree on the device’s dimensions, pointing towards a 12” display.
This will be a noticeable upgrade from the screen size of the iPad Air 2, and the new tablet is rumored to be an overall significant upgrade to the line, and Apple’s response to criticism that they haven’t been innovating enough with their most recent devices.
Rumors are claiming that the iPad Pro will also have upgraded internals, with a new A9 processor, as well as more memory (both operating as well as permanent storage). Apple are also reportedly looking to expand their reach on the market, trying to entice a more varied crowd instead of keeping the iPad a niche device. Apparently, the new tablet will try to attract business users as well as regular consumers, and it will be interesting to see how Apple pull this off, and what it could potentially mean for the future of iOS, not just the tablets themselves.
However, if the rumors are true, then Apple will not start production of the device for at least a few more months – they’re apparently looking at the middle of 2015 as a potential date to enter that phase of the device’s development. Which could also mean that there will not be any significant official news from the company until at least April or May. Apple are generally known for trying to keep their devices secret until they’ve finalized their specifications, and nothing will be final until the device actually starts being produced.
There are many things that can be done with the iPad to make it a competitive device on the tablet market, and Apple still have a lot of potential to give their fans something new and exciting. It’s true that the company has toned down the innovation in their designs a bit lately, but they still have the same great engineers that delivered their previous products, so they just need to take a little more time and evaluate what the market truly needs right now.
Reception for the iPhone 6 Plus was mostly positive, which could be one of the main driving reasons behind the increase in the iPad’s size (if the rumors are true), although these are two different markets with different requirements, and Apple should be careful not to mix the two concepts up too much.