'iPad Pro' With Force Touch-Enabled Stylus Predicted to Enter Mass Production By October

Apple's long-rumored 12.9-inch "iPad Pro" will enter mass production sometime in September or October, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The analyst also believes that the larger-screened iPad will come with a Force Touch-enabled stylus accessory for users to more easily navigate the increased surface area of the tablet.

iPad Pro Martin Hajek
Kuo believes manufacturer Cheng Uei will receive the exclusive assembly rights of the stylus. The analyst also points to recent market feedback of Force Touch on products like the Apple Watch and MacBook as reasons that the technology wouldn't exclusively drive big hardware sales, but Apple's commitment to the consistency of its devices will see Force Touch implemented on all of the company's products in the future.

Rumors about a first-party Apple-built stylus accessory began swirling earlier in the year, coming again from Kuo. Late last year, the first bit of news surrounding the iPad Pro pointed towards a 12.2-inch display, but subsequent stories have pushed the 12.9-inch rumor that's been heavily circulated ever since. Now, the latest rumors for the iPad Pro suggest the device is an unlikely candidate for next month's iPhone-centered media event, with a mid-to-late fall launch date somewhat lining up with Kuo's prediction today.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Related Forum: iPad

Top Rated Comments

AngerDanger Avatar
112 months ago
The combination of a larger screen, Apple's standard thinness, and Force Touch is worrisome…


Attachment Image
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Simplicated Avatar
112 months ago
"Who wants a stylus? You got to get them, and put them away ... Yuck!" ... SJ


Start at 6:40

I want a stylus for drawing and writing, which is far more precise and ergonomic than using my fingers.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
112 months ago
Apple will sell a lot of these. An Apple-designed stylus that communicates and is well-integrated at the system level with force touch will be huge. Can imagine all sorts of applications that will drive sales for both personal and business use.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacDarcy Avatar
112 months ago
As an artist who uses his iPad mini as a digital sketchbook, this intrigues me. When I first heard about a 12.7" iPad, i didn't think much of it. But hearing it'll have a touch sensitive stylus is very interesting.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keysofanxiety Avatar
112 months ago
The combination of a larger screen, Apple's standard thinness, and Force Touch is worrisome…

"To ... create the new iPad Pro, we asked ourselves 'what do people most need from a large screened tablet?' The answer, of course, is neither function nor affordability, but portability. The new iPad Pro is unapologetically flexible, allowing you to sympathetically scrunch it up and put it in your pocket to carry around.

The design for this forced us to ... rethink ... everything we knew about tablets. By ... removing the battery, and adding a gorgeous RetinaFlex display, this is simply the most portable iPad ever. We also knew that this would be used in the professional market, by people who carry around a computer with them. The innovative 'always on' design means you can keep it hooked up to your MacBook Pro, without having to worry about a battery ever running out.

Simply put, it's the best iPad we've ever made."

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sniffies Avatar
112 months ago
Finally! Can't wait to sell my Mac Pro and iMac with Retina 5K display!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2 Perspective Gray

Five Key Upgrades Coming to iPhone 16

Friday March 15, 2024 1:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone is Apple's top-selling product, and it gets an update every year. In 2024, we're expecting the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, with an arguably more interesting feature set than we got with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Capture Button All four iPhone 16 models are set to get a whole new button, which will be...
When To Expect New iPads Feature 1

Apple to Announce New iPads on March 26, Rumors Claim

Monday March 18, 2024 4:02 am PDT by
Apple is widely expected to release new iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models in the next few weeks. According to new rumors coming out of Asia, the company will announce its new iPads on Tuesday, March 26. Chinese leaker Instant Digital on Weibo this morning 日发布%23">claimed that the date will see some sort of announcement from Apple related to new iPads, but stopped short of calling it an...
airpods 3 orange

Two New AirPods 4 Models Expected to Launch in September or October

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:56 am PDT by
Apple suppliers will begin production of two new fourth-generation AirPods models in May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Based on this production timeframe, he expects the headphones to be released in September or October. Gurman expects both fourth-generation AirPods models to feature a new design with better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Expected to Depreciate Heavily

Tuesday March 12, 2024 9:04 am PDT by
Resale value trends suggest the iPhone SE 4 may not hold its value as well as Apple's flagship models, according to SellCell. According to the report, Apple's iPhone SE models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company's more premium offerings. The third-generation iPhone SE, which launched in March 2022, experienced a significant drop in resale value, losing 42.6%...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

iOS 17.4.1 Update for iPhone is Imminent

Monday March 18, 2024 5:27 am PDT by
iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 should be released within the next few days, with a build number of 21E235, according to a source with a proven track record. MacRumors previously reported that Apple was internally testing iOS 17.4.1. As a minor update for the iPhone, it will likely address software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear if the update will include any other changes. ...
M3 iPad Feature 3

New iPads Likely to Begin Shipping in April

Monday March 18, 2024 9:52 am PDT by
Apple's new iPad Pro models with OLED displays will likely begin shipping to customers in April, according to information shared today by Ross Young, CEO of display industry research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also said the new iPad Pro models might not ship until "deeper" into April in his Power On newsletter on Sunday:I've repeatedly said that new...
iOS 17 Passkey With Apple ACCOUNT Feature

'Apple ID' Expected to Change to 'Apple Account' Starting With iOS 18

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:13 am PDT by
MacRumors was first to report that Apple was planning to rebrand "Apple ID" to "Apple Account" across its software platforms and websites like iCloud.com as early as this year, and now Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has corroborated this change. A mockup of the new Apple Account branding In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the new "Apple Account" branding will start to be used later this...