Apple is holding its annual event called Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) next week, and although it normally focuses on software, there are reports saying that it is set to introduce at least two new iPad Pro variants. Mac Rumors reports that four devices have been registered under iOS 10, suggesting that this could include the iPad Pro 2 and the 10.5-inch variant that are being expected.
Of course, there are other pieces of evidence supporting these claims. Apple fans are pretty much confident right now that the two Pro variants mentioned above are making an appearance sometime soon, if not next week. There are little known details about each one, but leaks and murmurs provide a good picture of what we can expect on their reveal.
10.5-inch iPad Pro Will Not Be Bezel-less
The 10.5-inch iPad Pro is just that – a tablet with the capacity of an iPad Pro with a 10.5-inch display. This is new in a sense that the others in the lineup have 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch screens. But it should not be too different inside except for the current-gen parts like the A10X processor that will also arrive in other variants. It will also likely adopt the True Tone display from its 9.7-inch sibling.
According to Phone Arena , the bezels will be considerably slimmer, but not to the point of ditching them completely as we previously believed. And no, the 10.5-inch screen will not be crammed into the 9.7-inch iPad Pro’s chassis. The new variant is still expected to be bigger than its sibling, but not by a lot since the bezels will be reduced to accommodate the larger screen.
The Inquisitr also previously reported that Apple might be thinking of embedding the fingerprint sensor on the screen so that the physical home button can be removed. However, reports now believe otherwise. The home button is likely staying with the Touch ID at the front of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro. The fan-made render below is pretty much what we expect to see once it has been officially revealed.
10.5-inch iPad Pro | Updated Render pic.twitter.com/5j4T614nO9
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) May 23, 2017
iPad Pro 2 Refreshed With Slight Improvements
The iPad Pro successor is long overdue but it looks like it is finally coming alongside the new iPad Pro variant in WWDC. Not much changes are expected to happen, but at the least, we can look forward to the A10X processor and the True Tone display like the 10.5-inch model. We may also see reduced bezel sizes to keep the facade of all iPad Pros uniform.
The home button and Touch ID are also likely to remain on the same spot. What might be the biggest change to come to iPad Pro 2 are added Apple Pencil functionalities with an enhanced Pencil as well. Small adjustments like new stereo speakers and re-positioning the mic are also expected on both models.
Two Other iPad Pros Expected As Well
The two iPad Pros registered under iOS 10 are now accounted for, but what about the other two? As aforementioned, four devices have been spotted, which means there is a high possibility that four variants are going to be introduced in WWDC 2017.
Looking at previous rumors, the other two models could be the iPad Pro Mini version, really just the iPad Mini reconfigured for the enterprise market, and a refreshed 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which is also now due. Likewise, they are not going to be modified heavily – just a couple of updates.
However, four new tablets will make for a rather crowded lineup what with the 9.7-inch iPad 2017 unveiled in March. Although it is for the more casual users rather than professionals, does Apple really need four devices with almost the same capabilities in different screen sizes?
What do you think? Do you believe there are more tablets other than the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the iPad Pro 2? We’ll find out in WWDC 2017 on June 5-9 in San Jose, California.
[Featured Image by Eric Risberg/AP Images]
