Apple launched its largest ever tablet in September 2015. The iPad Pro 12.9 came with a huge 12.9-inch screen, supported the Apple Pencil stylus and packed a powerful processor – it was a big change to the iPad game.
We were big fans, giving it 4.5-stars in our full TechRadar review, praising the slate for its impressive front-facing speakers and great display among other things.
Then there was the iPad Pro 9.7, an iPad Air 2 replacement which came with a smaller screen, new True Tone technology and all of the features we’d already seen on the original iPad Pro.
But with 2017 now in full swing we need a new large-screen iPad, and the good news is it’s possible we’ll get one soon: the rumored device is likely to replace both Pro models and may come in a third size too. Here’s everything we know so far about the iPad Pro 2.
CUT TO THE CASE
- What is it? The next tablet from Apple
- When is it out? March 2017 at the earliest
- What will it cost? It’ll be expensive. Expect $799 (£679, AU$1249)
IPAD PRO 2 RELEASE DATE
The original iPad Pro is over a year old, but considering the iPad Pro 9.7 came out earlier in 2016 and demand for new tablets isn’t high at the moment, it’s no surprise we’re going to be waiting longer for an iPad Pro 2.
Based on previous releases an early 2017 launch around March is possible, but there’s evidence that the slate may have been delayed, as TSMC – which is making the chips for it – has apparently seen lower than expected yields.
There’s been news of an Apple event in March for some time, but the most recent rumors suggest that Apple is going to simply slip a minor upgrade to its iPad range into the online store, with a later event for all-new hardware.
TechRadar’s take: March 2017 is the earliest we’ll see it, but don’t be surprised if the iPad Pro 2 slips into the summer.
IPAD PRO 2 PRICE
There’s no news on pricing yet, so we only have the original iPad Pro’s pricing to go from. That starts at $599 (£499, AU$899) for the 9.7-inch model and $799 (£679, AU$1249) for the 12.9-inch one, so with pricing likely to be similar for the Pro 2 it certainly won’t be easy on the wallet.
IPAD PRO 2 DESIGN
Hottest leaks:
- A slimmer, lighter slate
- Water resistance
- No headphone port
Not much is known about the iPad Pro 2 just yet – but leaked photos of a new Apple tablet have shown off what some believe to be the iPad Pro 2.
They came from a source working on the Chinese supply line – according to Apple Insider – and show off the tablet’s screen with a model number of MH1Z2CD/F.
That number’s not attached to any existing product, so it’d make sense for this to be the iPad Pro 2. The photos don’t show off any specific changes though, so it may look just like the original iPad Pro tablet.
That wouldn’t be a surprise, especially as Apple only just reinvented the iPad to some extent with the launch of the Pro range.
That said, there’s a fair chance the company will try to make the new slates slimmer and lighter, as this is something Apple often does with new models and it could really benefit the larger model, as the iPad Pro 12.9 weighs a hefty 713g.
On the other hand, they could get thicker, albeit with a smaller overall footprint, as one leak claims a new 10.9-inch model will have the same length and width as the iPad Pro 9.7 but will be 7.5mm thick (where Apple’s current flagship is just 6.1mm).
The same source says the iPad Pro 2 12.9-inch variant will get 3mm thicker, making it 9.9mm thick.
Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7, so this may be a change Apple brings over to the iPad range.
Apple may also make the iPad Pro 2 water and dust resistant, like the iPhone 7. While a tablet – which is typically used indoors – is arguably less in need of that protection it would still help defend it against spilled drinks.
TechRadar’s take: The main iPad updates will likely become slimmer and lighter, although the much-vaunted 10.5-inch model could be a thicker variant of the current 9.7-inch choice.
If the smallest iPad Pro gets a reboot, expect the same shape with just an internal spec boost.
IPAD PRO 2 SCREEN
Hottest leaks:
- Three sizes
- A True Tone display
- A fingerprint scanner built into the screen
According to a research note from a respected analyst, the iPad Pro 2 will come in three different sizes. There’ll be 12.9-inch and 9.7-inch models, just like with the original range, but there’ll also apparently be a 10.5-inch version.
Recently we’ve heard additional details about that new size, including the fact that it will apparently be 2,224 x 1,668 in order to retain the same pixel density of 264 pixels per inch as the 9.7-inch model, and that despite having a larger screen it would have the same overall dimensions by reducing the bezel.
However, a supply chain source has claimed that there’ll be a 10.9-inch model (presumably instead of the rumored 10.5-inch one).
The source believes the home button would be built into the screen – along with TouchID fingerprint scanning – to allow for smaller bezels, but we’ve heard this rumor for a long while with the iPhone and it’s impossible to see it coming this year, as it’s just too early.
These leaks don’t mention the resolution or any other details, but we can predict that all models of the iPad Pro 2 will come with a True Tone display, which debuted on the iPad Pro 9.7.
True Tone allows your tablet to alter the screen’s color temperature depending on the ambient lighting of where you use it, so you can see the image properly no matter what conditions you’re in.
Apple rarely changes the resolution of its device’s screens; in fact, it hasn’t upped the 9.7-inch iPad’s resolution since the iPad 3 in 2012. You could argue that it’s due a jump by this point, but the 1536 x 2048 display doesn’t feel lacking, so we expect the iPad Pro 2 9.7 will keep that sharpness.
Similarly, the iPad Pro 2 12.9 will probably stay at 2048 x 2732 and the iPad Pro 2 10.5 or 10.9 – if it exists, which feels unlikely given it would be far too close to the 9.7-inch model in screen size – will presumably slot somewhere in the middle.
We’d expect to see some improvements to the display, but like the addition of True Tone on the iPad Pro 9.7 these are likely to be software tweaks or technology improvements, rather than an increased resolution.
One such improvement could be 3D Touch, which debuted on the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. This essentially makes the screen pressure-sensitive, so a hard press on something will yield different results to a light one.
Bigger changes could come with the iPad Pro 3, likely in 2018, with talk of a curved AMOLED display.
TechRadar’s take: The iPad Pro 2 12.9 is bound to have a True Tone display since the iPad Pro 9.7 does, and Apple is likely to improve and refine the screen too, but probably won’t change the resolution, and a fingerprint scanner built into the screen sounds like a long shot.
IPAD PRO 2 CAMERA AND BATTERY
Hottest leaks:
- A bigger battery
- Upgraded camera features, but not hardware
The iPad Pro 9.7 has a 12MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing one, so we’d expect at least that from the iPad Pro 2.
Chances are Apple won’t change the megapixel count, as both cameras on the iPad Pro 9.7 are already an upgrade on the iPad Pro 12.9’s snappers.
Although given that Apple stuck a larger lens on the iPhone 7 and a dual-lens on the iPhone 7 Plus it’s possible that it will bring one of those to the iPad Pro 2
There’s no news on what the battery size will be, and in any case it’s likely to vary depending on which screen size you opt for.
TechRadar’s take: The camera is often an afterthought on the iPad range – and rightly so. As such we don’t expect big changes here, especially as Apple improved the camera for the iPad Pro 9.7, but a larger battery is likely.
IPAD PRO 2 OS AND POWER
Hottest leaks:
- A powerful A10X processor
- iOS 10
- 4GB of RAM
We’d fully expect the iPad Pro 2 will launch with iOS 10 – Apple’s latest mobile operating system software upgrade. iOS 10 includes big improvements to Siri, the ability to live broadcast apps, a new look (and a lot less clutter) in the Control Center and more besides.
It wouldn’t be a new iPad without a new processor and Apple is rumored to be sticking an A10X chip in the iPad Pro 2. A Geekbench leak suggests it’ll be far more powerful than the original iPad Pro, suggesting it’ll have a single-core score of 4236 and a multi-core score of 6588.
By comparison the original iPad Pro had a multi-core score of 5472.
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