iPad Pro

Samsung rumored to supply screens for iPad Air 2 and 12.9″ iPad Pro

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 30, 2014

Samsung Display, Samsung's display unit and part of the company's component-making arm, will supply Apple with high-resolution panels for an upcoming second-generation iPad Air and a rumored “iPad Pro”which is understood to feature a 12.9-inch screen, Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes reported Tuesday morning citing Korean-news outlet inews24.

Although the Cupertino firm’s been distancing itself from the South Korean conglomerate amid ad wars and legal spats, the Galaxy maker is still an important supplier for Apple. And with its leading position in mobile screen production, Samsung is best poised to ensure that Apple has ample supply of high-resolution panels for the iPad Air 2 and the rumored iPad Pro.

iPad Air 2 and rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro said to run graphics-enhanced A8X processor

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

Apple's upcoming iPad Air 2 and the rumored 12.9-inch iPad, dubbed by the media the ‘iPad Pro’, will both run an enhanced “A8X” processor with improved graphics, GforGames claimed Thursday citing Taiwan’s TechNews [Google Translate].

Last year's debut of the iPhone 5s, iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display driven by the A7 chip broke Apple's previous practice of maintaining two separate mobile processor families, one for iPhones and 'X' version powering the iPads.

The fact of the matter is, the A7 and A8 chips are powerful enough to drive graphics on both smartphone and tablet displays. That said, if there's an A8X chip in tow for the rumored 12.9-inch device, chances are it'll come outfitted with an ultra high-resolution screen that would require a more powerful GPU than that found inside the A8 chip.

Poll: would you consider a larger iPad?

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 29, 2014

Tuesday, unnamed sources told Bloomberg that Apple has been gearing up to introduce a larger 12.9-inch iPad early next year.

For what it's worth, the story contradicts a March report by the mostly unreliable DigiTimes which claimed the project had been put on hold over various developmental issues.

Compared to the 9.7-inch iPad Air, the rumored device — dubbed by the press the 'iPad Pro' — would offer a significantly bigger canvas for your apps, media and content. At the same time, a 12.9-inch iPad would be just a hair smaller than the 13.3-inch MacBook Air and significantly bigger — 3 inches bigger to be exact — than the iPad Air.

So, who wants a giant iPad?

Bloomberg: Apple preparing 12.9-inch iPad for early 2015

Cody Lee ∙ August 26, 2014

Bloomberg is reporting this afternoon that Apple is preparing a larger 12.9-inch iPad for early next year. Citing people with "knowledge of the matter," the outlet says that the company's suppliers are gearing up now, with production of the tablet scheduled to begin by the first quarter of next year.

The report revives a theory that has been bouncing around the rumor mill for more than a year now. Apple was originally expected to launch the 13-inch "iPad Pro" this fall, but is believed to have pushed back the project due to resources being used on the so-called 'iWatch,' and the new iPhone 6.

Apple’s fabled 12.9-inch iPad Pro rumored to launch before year-end

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 6, 2016

Apple's fabled large-screened iPad, dubbed by the press iPad Pro, is still on the table and should see a formal release before the end of this year, if you trust a report from the Economic Daily newspaper.

The Chinese publication also said earlier this morning that the iWatch will be launching during the third quarter of 2014 in three models and two sizes, with a high-end model ostensibly incorporating a screen with a sapphire-glass coating.

While we don't put too much faith into reports by Chinese media, Economic Daily's accuracy is better than that of most other Chinese and Taiwanese outlets...

Photo of oversized iPad Pro dummy surfaces

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 16, 2014

With all the talk surrounding Apple's next iPhone(s), the rumor mill appears to have neglected the iPad Pro meme. Last we heard about the purported device was nearly two months ago when a DigiTimes story asserted a 12.9-inch iPad would see the light of day in the second half of this year.

And then, silence. Until today, that is. A user on the Chinese microblogging service Weibo has posted a photo that appears to depict a backplate of an obscenely large form-factor iPad...

Jaw-dropping iPad Pro concept: MagSafe, better multitasking, surround sound and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 10, 2014

So, is there a room for a new-category device, something between the tablet and the notebook? If you ask rumormongers, apparently there is.

Those of you who've been keeping tabs on the rumor mill are aware that Apple may or may not release a rumored 12.9-inch iPad this year - the latest intel points to a 2014 launch.

Maybe that's why we're not seeing compelling iPad Pro concepts, except for this one, but that has changed today thanks to Ramotion, an iPhone app development company. You may remember Ramotion for their previous eye candy concepts such as the OS X 11 mockup with an iOS 7-style flat interface or this one envisioning what Viber's iOS 7 redesign should look like.

Ramotion's Denis Pakhaliuk, was kind enough to send a couple high-resolution iPad Pro renderings my way, to share them with you guys. Their mockup will knock you off your seat so check out the images below the fold and meet us in comments...

Rumor: Retina MacBook Air and iPad Pro due in second half of 2014

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 26, 2014

Following a forum post by a reputable user on the Chinese website WeiPhone claiming Apple could soon release a new 12-inch MacBook model without a fan and featuring the Retina display and a redesigned trackpad, Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes is now reporting that a new version of the company's ultra-thin notebook, the MacBook Air, is getting a Retina display treatment later this year, around the same time when a rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro is reportedly dropping as well...

Double mockup: 12.9″ iPad Pro + next-gen Apple TV with iPod touch style remote

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 17, 2014

Apple may not be interested in making a full-on television set after all, if Yukari Iwatani Kane's scathing book, titled Haunted Empire: Apple After Steve Jobs (available on the iBooks Store), is anything to go by. Needlees to say, that's not stopping those mockups from coming.

Take, for instance, German website Curved.de which today put out an interesting concept envisioning Apple's rumored oversized iPad, the iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch edge-to-edge screen.

The same outlet previously mocked up a next-generation Apple TV concept sporting an interesting looking remote with touch controls that resembles the iPod touch. Unlike some other crazy concepts, the publication did its homework by basing the renderings on rumor-mill reporting.

I've included both concepts for your viewing pleasure right below the fold so have a look and tell us what you think in the comment section...

Apple has reportedly put its ‘iPad Pro’ project on hold

Cody Lee ∙ March 14, 2014

Folks looking forward to Apple's rumored 13-inch tablet may want to pick something else to pine over for a while. According to a new report, the Cupertino company has shelved its so-called 'iPad Pro' project due to various developmental issues.

Citing supply chain and channel inventory sources, Digitimes is reporting today that multiple vendors are running into problems producing larger tablets. The biggest hurdle seems to be a lack of support from platform developers and ecosystems...

Apple to update iPad Air this year, no 12.9-inch iPad or new mini until 2015

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo is out with a new research note this weekend, offering predictions on Apple's tablet plans for the next two years. The analyst, who has a strong track record in tech predictions, believes that 2014 will be the year of the iPad Air.

Kuo sees Apple updating the full-sized iPad this year with an A8 processor, Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and possibly a few other improvements. But as for a new iPad mini and the oft-rumored 12.9-inch iPad "pro," he believes we wont see them until 2015...

Rumor: Apple seemingly targeting Fall launch for 12.9-inch iPad Pro

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 17, 2014

According to Taiwan-based supply chain makers, Apple is accelerating development of a rumored large-screen iPad, the iPad Pro, and is gearing up to launch the device by the end of the third quarter, indicating a Fall launch alongside the expected refresh to the existing iPad lineup.

As the unnamed sources asseverated, Apple has also asked its component suppliers and manufacturing partners to prepare for new models of 7.9 and 9.7-inch iPads...