New Delhi: Apple plans to upgrade its iPad Pro line with new screen technology and new chipsets early next year. According to Apple analyst Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the company will be in two sizes of the next iPad Pro model, starting with the 11-inch iPad Pro.
However, the larger iPad will have a relatively larger 13-inch display instead of the existing 12-9 inch screen. The new Pro tablet could be equipped with an upgraded M3 SoC.
In his latest Power on newsletter, Gurman adds the upcoming iPad Pro models will have OLED display panels instead of LED panels. Apple also uses older screen technology on the iPhone, improving the viewing experience with richer colors.
In general, OLED screens reproduce vivid colors and deeper blacks. They can also help preserve battery life because each pixel is managed individually.
The newsletter does not highlight any major design changes, although it does state that Apple may refresh the Magic Keyboard accessory.
“The new accessory makes the iPad Pro look more like a laptop than it does in its current configuration and adds a larger trackpad,” added Gurman. This resolves the current Magic Keyboard complaint, due out in 2020.
Why a major iPad Pro upgrade?
Apple, like other tablet makers, is struggling with sales as PC and tablet shipments have declined globally in recent quarters. Additionally, customers may also find it difficult to choose between a Mac and an iPad, even though there are obvious differences between the two, such as the touchscreen and the software experience.
The iPad Pro line can also be confusing for customers as the two Pro models mainly differ in screen technology. However, the price difference between the two is substantial: the iPad Pro 11 has a starting price of Rs 81,900 and the iPad Pro 12.9 has a starting price of Rs 1,12,900.
Gurman reiterated that Apple’s next big launch could take place on September 12. We can expect the launch of new iPhone modes (iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro). All new iPhones must have a USB-C port for charging. The classic iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus may also come with a new screen notch. Apple may launch new Watch models on September 12.
Another launch is also planned for October – possibly for the first Mac M3s – but it could be a test launch rather than a large-scale offline event.