Apple Planning Thicker Bezel-Free 10.5" iPad Pro With 9.7" Footprint and No Home Button [Updated]

Apple has a nearly bezel-free 10.9-inch iPad Pro under development without a Home button, according to Japanese website Mac Otakara.

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The report said the nearly bezel-free design will allow for the 10.9-inch model to have the same overall footprint as the current 9.7-inch iPad Pro. A top bezel will remain in order to provide space for the front-facing FaceTime camera, but the bottom bezel will be reduced, according to supply chain sources cited.

The much-rumored 10.9-inch model will also be marginally thicker at 7.5mm, the same depth as the original iPad Air. The current 9.7-inch iPad Pro measures 6.1mm thick. The next 12.9-inch model will also be 0.3mm thicker at 7.2mm, while a rumored 7.9-inch iPad Pro will allegedly likely have the same dimensions as the iPad mini 4.

Earlier this month, a group of Barclays analysts said Apple will launch a trio of new iPad Pro models in March, including the aforementioned bezel-free 10.9-inch model and refreshed 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch versions. The note likewise said the 10.9-inch model will have a 9.7-inch footprint without a Home button.

Multiple rumors have pointed towards a new iPad in the 10-inch range, but the exact screen size has varied in each report. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said 10.5 inches, echoed by DigiTimes, while an earlier Mac Otakara report said 10.1 inches. Mac Otakara and Barclays now appear to agree on 10.9 inches.

Mac Otakara previously said the 10.9-inch iPad Pro will feature quad microphones, compared to the dual-microphone setup on existing iPad Pro models, and retain a 3.5mm headphone jack. More "revolutionary" changes, including a switch to OLED displays, are expected in 2018, according to Kuo.

Update: At some point after publishing its article, Mac Otakara has changed "10.9-inch iPad Pro" to "10.5-inch iPad Pro," which is the more agreed upon display size for the rumored tablet.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Related Forum: iPad

Top Rated Comments

CaneCollegeboy Avatar
96 months ago
Because the home button fails on 9/10 Apple devices. It's so much better to accidentally 'tap' the screen wrong.
Did you make that up? Ive never had a home button fail and ive had more than a dozen apple products so far.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svenning Avatar
96 months ago
0.3mm thicker!!! Ive is going to get a heart attack when he finds out
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mascots Avatar
96 months ago
Don't freak out - they'll still offer the iPad Pro 12.9 1, the iPad Pro 9.7 1, the iPad Air 2, the iPad Mini 4 on top of an iPad Pro 12.9 2, iPad Pro 10.9 Pro, and maybe just sprinkle in a little Mini 5 and iPad Air 3 (both only with modest updates so it can't compete with the Pro 9.7 1)

Because why not throw it all at the wall and see what sticks instead of focusing an already all over the place and seemingly lost product line.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
96 months ago
Because the home button fails on 9/10 Apple devices. It's so much better to accidentally 'tap' the screen wrong.
Of course you have a source for that claim, right? Post it up.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheHorrorNerd Avatar
96 months ago
Headline :
"Apple Planning Thicker Bezel-Free 10.9" iPad Pro With 9.7" Footprint and No Home Button"

A top bezel will remain in order to provide space for the front-facing FaceTime camera, but the bottom bezel will be reduced, according to supply chain sources cited.

How is this, by any stretch of the imagination "bezel-free?"
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RichTeer Avatar
96 months ago
Can someone explain to me what makes an iPad "Pro"?

I'm honestly curious on the facts here, because none of the rumored changes (nor the current specs) seem to.
The increased price...
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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