Second Source Claims Apple Will Launch 10.5-inch iPad in 2017

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.

ipad_lineup_2016_sides

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.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

Apple Creator Studio

Apple Introduces New 'Creator Studio' Bundle of Apps for $129 Per Year

Tuesday January 13, 2026 6:11 am PST by
Apple today introduced a new Apple Creator Studio bundle that offers access to six creative apps, as well as exclusive AI features and content, as part of a single subscription. In the U.S., pricing is set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year. Here are the six apps included with an Apple Creator Studio subscription:Final Cut Pro on the Mac and iPad Logic Pro on the Mac and iPad Pixelmator...
Verizon New

Verizon is Down: iPhones Show 'SOS' Mode Due to Network Outage [Resolved]

Wednesday January 14, 2026 10:18 am PST by
Verizon is experiencing a major outage across the U.S. today, with hundreds of thousands of customers reporting issues with the network on the website Downdetector. There are also complaints across Reddit and other social media platforms. iPhone users and others with Verizon service are generally unable to make phone calls, send text messages, or use data over 5G or LTE due to the outage....
iOS 26

Here's What's New in iOS 26.3 So Far

Monday January 12, 2026 1:15 pm PST by
Apple today seeded the second beta of iOS 26.3, nearly a month after the first beta. So far, the update includes a couple of new features for iPhones. iOS 15.3 through iOS 18.3 were all released in late January over the years, so it is thereby likely that iOS 26.3 will be released towards the end of this month as well. The update is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer. Below,...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More

Wednesday January 14, 2026 7:09 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around eight months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous...
maxresdefault

Apple Confirms Google Gemini Will Power Next-Generation Siri This Year

Monday January 12, 2026 7:38 am PST by
In a statement shared with CNBC today, Apple confirmed that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of Siri that is slated to launch later this year. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. "After careful evaluation, we determined that Google's technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we're excited about the innovative...

Top Rated Comments

Chicane-UK Avatar
119 months ago
EXCELLENT. We just don't have enough iPads available already. Well worth sidelining the Mac Pro and other desktop Macs for this. Good work, Apple.

That's sarcasm by the way.
Score: 58 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mikkis Avatar
119 months ago
As long as the OS is what it is the new hardware is quite irrelevant.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
canny Avatar
119 months ago
Tim Cook needs to go.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
melendezest Avatar
119 months ago
The problem with the iPad is not its size, weight, or horsepower.

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.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tapaul Avatar
119 months ago
Yaaaawn. Its astonishing that a company with the resources Apple has, seems no longer able to innovate. Ipad is seriously boring. Incrementally micro-updating it is boring. Macbook's are now boring. iMacs are old. Where has all the excitement gone? If they could just update the mac pro, again, and stun me, like they could back then. These days, its all phones, ipads and macbooks for the lowest common denominator.. If they want some more of my cash, they are going to have to get to work.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
redheeler Avatar
119 months ago
Yet another move that would make Apple's current lineup more reminiscent of the 90's than ever. My suggestion is replace the 9.7" with a 10.5" + slimmed bezels, make it a lower price, and stop the crazy fragmentation.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)