Rumors abound that Apple is preparing to release a new, larger iPad. Many industry insiders believe that the name of this new entry will be iPad Pro.
Now that the tech giant has announced the launch of a new 15-inch MacBook Pro and a new $1,999 configuration of the 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display, can a larger iPad be left behind?
Some estimate that Apple will make the iPad announcement this June at its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. Others believe the launch will come this fall, in line with previous iPad debuts, which have taken place between October and November each year since 2012.
Given that the larger version of the MacBook Pro has just been unveiled, it seems like a fall announcement would be more likely.
How will the Pro be different? Experts believe that it will have a large 12.9-inch touch screen. This is significantly larger than the 9.7-inch Air2 and 7.9-inch Mini 3, and even many laptop models.
The iPad Pro could include several of Apple’s latest features. These include Force Touch, a new trackpad that is pressure sensitive. It responds to how you press on the surface. Basically, the feature allows a touch screen to have a “secondary” touch, much like the right mouse button on a desktop device. This is done by lightly touching the screen instead of pressing on it.
Force Touch is included on the updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display and its upcoming 12-inch MacBook. It’s also a feature of the new Apple Watch.
Could a stylus also be in Apple’s future? Some think the Pro will incorporate a Bluetooth iPen stylus with pressure sensitivity. Former CEO Steve Jobs was not a fan of the accessory and executives at the Cupertino, CA headquarters have shied away from it. However, the popularity of the pen among many who use the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 or Samsung Galaxy Note 4 cannot be argued.
The popularity of Apple Pay and its increasing acceptance by retailers should encourage Apple to integrate Tap to Pay functionality online with the newest device. This is made possible by near field communication (NFC) capabilities.
NFC support is found in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, as well as the Apple Watch. Apple Pay takes advantage of this technology by turning the device into an electronic cash register. NFC was not included on the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3.
The additional plug-in capability could also be a nice feature on a larger device, adding flexibility with more accessories. Since the USB-C port was featured on the new MacBook released this spring, many believe the larger tablet will include it as well. It could replace or complement the Apple Lightning Port. The end result would be easier access with keyboard docks and external monitors.
So how much would a bigger iPad cost? The price of the device will probably be higher. Think iPad Air2 with an extra $100-$200. Of course, the increase in each storage tier will result in another $100 per unit.
As the selection of Apple products increases, so does the size of the devices.
It leads to speculation that many in the Cupertino brain trust actually believe that “bigger is better”.