iPad Pro will feature 12.2-inch screen, be thinner than iPhone 6 Plus

We’ve heard numerous reports about a possible “iPad Pro” over the past few months, but so far there’s little evidence Apple is actually working on such a project. However, a new report from Macotakara is further fanning the flames, claiming Apple’s upcoming Surface Pro 3 competitor will sport a 12.2-inch display, actually conflicting with earlier reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.

According to the report, Apple’s new device is a clear response to Microsoft’s tablet/laptop hybrid, with an emphasis on landscape usage for productivity. The device will apparently be laid out a lot like the current iPad Air 2, with Touch ID, a Lightning connector and a front-facing camera all in their usual positions. But the chassis will actually resemble Apple’s rumored Quanta-built MacBook Air, which we’ve heard will sport a Retina display.


Many reports have said the device will sport a 12.9-inch display, so the rumors are definitely conflicting here. However, the main meat of the report is still the same: Apple is definitely prepping an iPad Pro model. When it does launch sometime early next year, Macotakara says the device will be thinner than the iPhone 6 Plus, with speakers on both the top and bottom for improved audio performance.


While many of these reports have revealed plenty of hardware possibilities, we’re still left wondering about how the device will handle software. Will it simply run iOS 8? Or will it be more powerful than that? There is already of ton of great productivity software available for the iPad, so chances are it’ll fall into that category. But maybe Apple will surprise us with something else. The company has said, however, it has no plans to merge the iOS and OS X experience, so seeing some kind of hybrid is unlikely.


The release was originally expected at the end of this year, but has since been pushed back to early 2015, possibly right around when the company’s iWatch is set to launch.

Article Source: iPad Pro will feature 12.2-inch screen, be thinner than iPhone 6 Plus