Apple iPads could be delayed until the second half of the year; three devices in the works: Report

By tech2 News Staff /  25 Jan 2017 , 13:00

Further delays are in the offing for Apple’s iPad lineup. If reports are to be believed, Apple’s brand new iPads will not ship until the second half of this year.

It’s long been rumoured that Apple will introduce three new iPads this year. These include an updated iPad Air with a 9.7-inch screen, a brand new iPad with a 10.5-inch screen but the same form-factor as the 9.7-inch version and a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

It’s expected that the 10.5-inch iPad and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will ship with Apple’s latest A10X chip. Historically, the X-version of Apple’s iPhone SoCs run faster and host either an extra or a more powerful graphics core. This is needed to drive the higher resolution iPad displays.

These devices were expected early this year. However, DigiTimes reports that these devices could be delayed to later this year. Citing “sources from the related upstream supply chain”, DigiTimes believes that the devices won’t even be announced until the second half of the year.

It’s worth noting that the sources suggest that the 9.7-inch iPad will become an “entry-level device” for the education sector. It’s display unit will apparently be provided by Seoul Semiconductor, replacing the current supplier of the 9.7-inch iPad display.

Apple working on 10.5-inch iPad for 2017 say rumours; production slated to begin in December

By tech2 News Staff /  25 Nov 2016 , 11:37

Apple iPad rumours have been doing the rounds of online world since August this year. But according to Taiwan supply chain makers quoted by Digitimes, the size of the upcoming iPad is being confirmed at 10.5-inch. The production for the same is expected to begin in December and the product unveil will happen in Q1 2017.

After the 7.9-inch, 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch form factors, the 10.5-inch iPad will be the fourth form factor from Apple.

According to Digitimes, the 10.5-inch display size has been selected as it seems to be the most popular size among enterprises and education sector in the US. The existing 9.7-inch form factor is deemed to small and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is on the expensive side of things.

Sources have said that the new 10.5-inch iPad will come with an Apple A10X processor which will also be used in the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Apple is also expected to launch low price version of the 9.7-inch iPad to compete with existing Android tablets. The 9.7-inch iPads are expected to be launched with the A9X processor which is present on the 12.9-inch and 9.7-inch iPad Pros.