A report from the Taiwanese supply chain emerged overnight claiming Apple will release a 10.5-inch "education and enterprise" tablet as part of its iPad line-up next year (via DigiTimes). The 10.5-inch iPad is said to be equipped with Apple's A10X processor, also expected in next year's refreshed line-up, with production slated to begin next month.
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Apple is launching the 10.5-inch iPad mainly because 10-inch and larger tablets have been popular among enterprises and the education sector in the US, the sources said. Its existing 9.7-inch iPad may be too small and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro too expensive for such procurement, the sources indicated.
A number of claims have emerged recently suggesting Apple plans to extend its iPad line-up with a new tablet dimension in the 10-inch range. Earlier this month, Barclays analysts claimed Apple will release a bezel-free 10.9-inch model alongside refreshed 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPads, citing its own supply chain sources, while in October Japanese website Mac Otakara said a new 10.1-inch iPad Pro would launch in early 2017.
However, today's report marks the second independent source to suggest Apple plans to introduce a 10.5-inch mid-tier iPad. In August, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the same thing and earmarked the same A10X processor for the tablet, suggesting there may be more substance to this particular rumor.
In addition, Kuo claimed Apple will also launch lower-price versions of the 9.7-inch iPad. Today's sources corroborate that claim also, citing Apple's apparent intention "to compete with Android models".
Shipments of the rumored 10.5-inch iPad are expected to reach two million units in the first quarter of 2017 and may reach 5 to 6 million units in the year, DigiTimes sources said.
More "revolutionary" changes to iPads, including a switch to OLED displays, are expected in 2018, according to Kuo's earlier report.
Top Rated Comments
That's sarcasm by the way.
The problem is Apple's lack of vision for the device.
As others have already stated, it begins with the OS.
Apple made a decision way back to lock that sucker down, and they effectively crippled the device's ability to truly redefine computing.
If Apple truly intends the iPad to be the future they need to allow filesystem access, eliminate the proprietary lightning horses***t, provide mouse/trackpad support, and open up more customization options like Android does.
Until that happens, the iPad will remain a toy that can do some minor pro stuff instead of a full-blown Pro tool you can play with.
But Apple's doubling-down on the consumer-side. It's abandoning the pro segment little by little: "The iMac is powerful enough." "An iPad is all you need." A soldered-down, (effectively) port-less Mac is "Pro".
One look at Apple's current product line makes it obvious: Apple is in chaos.
They are letting the competition catch up and fill in the gaps, instead of expanding their portfolio and taking at least some eggs out of the iPhone basket.