iPhone Pro? Reports Indicate New iPhone Coming This Year
If the reports are true, one of Apple’s latest products could be an iPhone Pro.
According to Geek Snack, the Cupertino, California-based technology giant has the iPhone Pro on track for a 2016 premiere. Reports of the iPhone Pro come just days before an expected launch of the latest Apple offerings, including an updated iPad and iPhone 5SE.
Geek Snack notes the expected March 15 launch of the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and the scaled down iPhone 5SE, which it notes is possibly called the 4SE.
The launch of the new iPhone Pro is expected in September, around the same time Apple is expected to launch a new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus line of phones, Snack reported.
“However, analysts have agreed that based on supply chain leaks and inside information, Apple is also going to launch an iPhone Pro handset that would cater to the more active audience of Apple products. The iPhone Pro will not only be completely waterproof with an IP68 certification, but it will also house a dual-camera setup that was previously leaked and attributed to the iPhone 7 Plus, made with underwater content creators in mind.”
The new models could include pre-installed software designed to be used underwater, tentatively called iDive.
While it is too early to estimate a price for the rumored iPhone Pro, Information Week is saying the new iPhone SE model is expected to have a price point between $400 and $500.
At the same time, prices are expected to fall significantly for the iPhone 4S, the website claims, with price points as low as $250.
As for the new iPad offering, Information Week is reporting on several expected features in the device.
“Apple is also expected to unveil an iPad Pro that will have a number of new features. The 9.7-inch iPad will include enhanced speakers and be part of the iPad Pro line,” it reported, adding the model “will also carry the A9X processor, similar to that of the larger 12-inch iPad.”
Christian Today reports not only the unveiling of a new iPad Pro model, but also the expected release of the iPad Mini 5. The unit will be scaled down from the iPad Pro but still offer robust updates from the current line of iPad and iPad Mini offerings.
Also noted in the Christian Today report is the fact that new 9.7-inch iPad Pro models will essentially be iPad Air 3 units, which means an end for the “Air” marketing of the product.
The newer iPad Mini 5 expected later this year will be thinner, CT reports, with “thickness of merely 5.0 mm, thinner than its predecessor’s 6.1 mm; the 7000-series aluminum for its chassis used in the last iPhone; upgraded processor, the A9; and smaller battery capacity.”
“An improvement is also expected in terms of display quality, but not much in the camera. Internal storage is also expected to start at 32GB and end at 128GB. The 16GB storage for the lowest model last year was just too small for the current user standards.”
Reports have also previously indicated an updated Apple Watch coming to market, possibly having the name of Apple Watch 2. The new watches will not be very different in appearance, but will have improvements to processing and storage.
With so many updates coming to the Apple line of products, the question remains whether consumers will wait for units like the iPad Mini 5, which will have updates to the internals, or will consumers go ahead and make a purchase before launch? What will you do? New iPhone, iPad Pro, and iPhone Mini 5, or stick with the older product line? Let us know in the comments section below.
[ Featured Image by Lam Yik Fei/Getty Images]
