Apple is prepping a third version of its iPad range, with the Cupertino-based company reportedly working on a 10.5–inch model according to latest reports from supply chain sources in Taiwan, says a new report from DigiTimes.
Production will begin next month, according to insiders, with a spring launch date likely. The tablet is said to come with the same A10X chipset as the larger 12.9–inch iPad Pro.
“Apple is launching the 10.5-inch iPad mainly because 10-inch and larger tablets have been popular among enterprises and the education sector in the US,” reads DigiTimes‘ report. “Its existing 9.7-inch iPad may be too small and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro too expensive for such procurement, the sources indicated.”
Previous rumours have pointed towards Apple’s plans for a new tablet, which could be the same size as its existing 9.7–inch iPad, but come without a bezel around the display, allowing for a larger screen. Back in August, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, claimed a 10.5-inch iPad was coming.
Shipments of 10.5-inch iPad will reach two million units in first-quarter 2017 and may reach 5-6 million units in the year, the sources predicted.
Apple has seen the popularity of the iPad wane in recent years as consumer opt for larger smartphones or hold onto older tablets for longer.
However, the same sources say Apple will launch cheaper versions of its standard size iPad at the same time as this new, larger version, in an effort to stem competition from rival Android manufacturers.
