Rumors abound that Apple is preparing to launch a new, larger iPad. Many industry insiders believe that the name of this new entry will be the iPad Pro.
Now that the tech giant has announced the release of a new 15-inch MacBook Pro and a new $1,999 configuration of the 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display, can a larger iPad be left behind?
Some estimate that Apple will make the iPad announcement this June at its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco. Others believe the launch will happen this fall, in line with previous iPad debuts, which have taken place between October and November every year since 2012.
Since the larger version of the MacBook Pro has just been introduced, it seems like a fall announcement would be more likely.
How will the Pro be different? Experts believe that it will have a large 12.9-inch touch screen. This is significantly larger than the 9.7-inch Air2 and 7.9-inch Mini 3, and even many other laptop models.
The iPad Pro could include several of Apple’s latest features. These include Force Touch, a new trackpad that’s sensitive to pressure. It responds to how you press on the surface. Basically, the feature allows a touch screen to have a “secondary” touch, much like the right mouse button on a desktop device. This is done by lightly touching the screen instead of pressing it.
Force Touch is included in the updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro with retina displays and its upcoming 12-inch MacBook. It’s also a feature of the new Apple Watch.
Could a stylus also be in Apple’s future? Some think the Pro will incorporate a pressure-sensitive Bluetooth iPen stylus. Former CEO Steve Jobs wasn’t a fan of the accessory and executives at the Cupertino, CA headquarters have long since turned away from it. However, there’s no arguing the popularity of the stylus among many who use the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 or Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
The popularity of Apple Pay and its growing acceptance by retailers should encourage Apple to integrate online Tap to Pay functionality with the newest device. This is made possible by Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities.
NFC support is found on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, as well as the Apple Watch. Apple Pay takes advantage of this technology by turning the device into an electronic cash register. NFC was not included in the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3.
The extra plug-in capability could also be a nice feature on a larger device, adding flexibility with more accessories. Since the USB-C port was featured on the new MacBook released this spring, many believe the larger tablet will include it as well. It could replace or complement the Apple Lightning Port. The end result would be easier access with keyboard docks and external monitors.
So how much would a bigger iPad cost? The price of the device is probably higher. Think iPad Air2 with an extra $100-$200. Of course, the increase in each storage tier will result in another $100 per unit.
As the selection of Apple products increases, so does the size of the devices.
It leads to speculation that many in the Cupertino Brain Trust actually believe that “bigger is better.”
