This would be a 10,5 ″ screen on a body similar in size to the current 9,7 ″ iPad Pro | IMAGE: Dan Provost
Despite rumors that an Apple event in March to unveil three new iPads has been announced, the latest informational leaks from Apple's supply chain suggest that the tablet update will not reach the hands of consumers until March. second half of the year.
Citing data gleaned from the Cupertino-based company's supply chain, DigiTimes reported Thursday that the internal components of the new iPads are still in the planning phase. As a result, the shipment of the new Apple tablets cannot happen in any case until the second half of this year 2017.
It should be noted that while DigiTimes is generally well informed about news events happening in the supply chain, the publication has a spotty track record when it comes to specifying and timing details for future Apple products. For example, in 2014, many details were given about what was rumored very strongly at the time: a 12-inch MacBook, but it gave it a 15-month launch window. However, the device was finally released in April 2015.
In regards to last Thursday's rumor about the iPad, the latest supply chain information uncovered suggests that the 10.5-inch iPad and 12.9-inch iPad Pro will have an integrated hardened processor A10X from Apple. It is unclear which processor is going to be incorporated into the 9,7-inch iPad, as they are said to focus on the education sector, in the same way that the eMac originally did and the MacBook Air tries to do now. .
The screen for the 9,7 iPad will be manufactured by Korea-based Seoul Semiconductior, according to the latest information, thus moving away from the current supplier, Nichia. It is also revealed that another series of components that will make up the device will be manufactured by "secondary suppliers", without specifying which ones. Nor has anything been published on the reason or reasons for these changes, which seem more to respond to logistics reasons than competitiveness.
The first rumors about a 10.5-inch iPad began to circulate in August, along with other debates that focus on whether there will be a 10,9-inch model the same thickness as the iPad Air. From an operational standpoint, the 10,5-inch size makes more sense than the 10.9-inch. Keeping the same aspect ratio and pixel density as its predecessors, the iPad's 10,5-inch width is the same as the iPad mini. A switch to a 10,5-inch screen would allow Apple to push its flagship model to a screen density of 326 pixels per inch, a version higher than the current 264 pixels per inch.
Finally, recent reports have also come to light from the supply chain suggesting that the iPad mini, which has not been updated since 2015, will receive an update. The little brother of the iPad family seems to be the most marginalized for now, but nevertheless, there is a real demand for this type of device among users. The breadth of the range that the iPad brand is embracing, to which new models arrive with new sizes every year, may be the cause of the absence of updates for the mini, which has been relegated to a digital ostracism by Apple. With the arrival of the update to this model, many users, especially in the field of education, will see improved expectations and the result they can obtain on the little apple tablet.
The rumors do not cease and increase as the dates approach when Apple, as usual, usually holds its new product presentation events.