The fabled large-screen iPad Pro may be getting closer to becoming reality, as mobile analytics firm AppSee is seeing signs of an “iPad6,8” with a screen resolution of 2,732 x 2,048 pixels in its logs. The company recently revealed that it has also seen the “iPhone8,1” and “iPhone8,2” coming up in log files, pointing to the next-generation iPhones expected to be revealed in September.
The AppSee data adds weight to a discovery months by a Taiwanese developer a few months ago showing that a 12.93-inch, 264 pixel per inch iPad with identical resolution was buried in iOS 9 beta code. In addition, research firm DisplaySearch reported back in January of 2015 that Apple was developing a tablet display at 2,732 x 2,048 pixels.
Meanwhile, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the iPad Pro will feature Force Touch, a stylus, and start mass production in September or October. Kuo thinks that Force Touch — now only available on the trackpad built into the 12-inch MacBook and on the Apple Watch — will become mainstream across all Apple devices.
There is only one fly in the iPad Pro ointment; a device with a 12.93-inch Retina display would probably cost as much as a MacBook or MacBook Air, and without a keyboard and OS X onboard, the device might be a hard sell to businesses. What are your thoughts on a bigger, more expensive iPad Pro? Share them with us in the comments below.
Looks interesting. Big screen would be ideal for split view in iOS 9. Agree with the author’s concerns about the pricing strategy. I suspect we will know more come September 9!
I’m waiting for the 20″ MacBook. ;-)