Two days after it started selling refurbished iPhones through its online store, Apple has now added the 9.7-inch iPad Pro to the Special Deals section at Apple.com. Refurbished 12.9-inch iPad Pros are available as well. Prices of refurbished 9.7-inch iPad Pros range from $509 for a 32GB Wi-Fi model, a saving of $90, to $789 for a 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular version, a $140 savings.
Apple typically takes the iPhone's A-series chips and updates them for iPads with more GPU cores and a faster performing, higher-clocked CPU. These chips typically have an “X” in their name, but with new iPad Pros and a fifth-generation iPad mini due in Spring 2017 the company has not yet officially announced an “X” variant of the iPhone 7's A10 Fusion chip.
Today, a source on Chinese social network Weibo posted alleged synthetic GeekBench 4 benchmark scores that could indicate at least one-fifth faster CPU performance in both single-core and dual-core computing for the purported A10X Fusion chip.
Japanese blog Mac Otakara has heard from reliable sources that Apple is gearing up to refresh its iPad lineup in Spring of 2017 with an updated 12.9-inch iPad Pro model, a new 10.1-inch model joining the lineup and a fifth-generation iPad mini, which should gained the 'Pro' moniker and be marketed by Apple simply as the 7.9-inch iPad mini Pro.
For the most part, the outlet corroborated a previous report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo with one major difference: Kuo claimed Apple would be releasing a 10.5-inch model iPad Pro model next year, not the 10.1-inch device mentioned in Mac Otakara's report.
Following its recent iPad Pro-dissing commercial, Microsoft today released another nicely done Surface Pro 4 ad which takes aim at the MacBook Air, calling it “less useful, like a hat for your cat”. Surface ads have successfully promoted competitive advantages of the hybrid device, which comes with a detachable keyboard, pen, touchscreen and more. And thanks to an Intel chip, it runs the full Office suite and most other Windows programs, like Photoshop.
Premium accessory maker Twelve South today added a new 9.7" iPad Pro-optimized member to its vintage-style Book Book cases, three months following Book Book for 12.9-inch iPad Pro that debuted in early-summer. The company also said that customers can now pick up Surface Pad covers for their 9.7-inch iPad Pro. The new Book Book for the 9.7-inch tablet is priced at $79.99, or $99.99 for the Rutledge Edition.
As for the stylish SurfacePad sleeve for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, it'll set you back $79.99.
Apple's most recent iPad Pro commercial attempts to position the powerful tablet as the ultimate computer, but Microsoft begs to differ.
But in its latest commercial for the Surface Pro 4 laptop/notebook hybrid, the Windows maker challenges Apple by basically saying that just because you call something a computer doesn’t mean it fits the description.
“Cortana knows that the Surface Pro 4, with its powerful Intel Core processor, detachable keyboard with real keys and a trackpad, pen, touchscreen, full Office and external ports fits the description. Everything else is just late to the party,” says Microsoft.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo—who has a decent, but not stellar track record in predicting future Apple products—just issued a peculiar note to clients regarding the future of Apple's iPad lineup.
In the note, a copy of which was obtained by MacRumors, the well-connected analyst does not expect any major refreshes to iPads in this year.
But for 2017, the analyst is calling for three new models: a brand new 10.5-inch iPad Pro size joining a second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro and a low-cost 9.7-inch iPad. These devices are predicted to be followed by a “revolutionary” iPad model in 2018 that should bring “radical changes” in form factor design and user behavior while adopting flexible AMOLED panels, which so-called Tenth Anniversary iPhone is expected to gain in 2017.
Apple on Tuesday debuted international versions of its Smart Keyboard for the iPad Pro. Previously you could only purchase the accessory with a United States English layout, but now you can get it in British English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and several other languages.
Apple on Monday released a new commercial for its iPad Pro line. Titled "What's a Computer," the ad spotlights the firm's latest and most powerful tablet, showing off various productivity and multitasking features that one might desire from a PC.
This isn't the first time Apple has suggested that the iPad Pro is powerful enough to replace your computer or laptop, but it is the first time it has done so blatantly in an ad. It's so flagrant, in fact, that it almost has a Microsoft Surface feeling to it.
iPhone 7 leaks and rumors have dominated the headlines for better part of the summer, especially as we've been inching closer and closer to the handset's expected September introduction. But the iPhone 7 isn't the only Apple product that's up for a refresh.
The iPad Pro, which made its debut last September alongside the iPhone 6s, should see its regular annual refresh, too, and now photos sent in to AppleInsider from a Chinese supply-chain source claim to picture a second-generation iPad Pro prototype with a 12.9-inch screen.
Many people are disappointed that the latest iPads lack 3D Touch-capable screens although it's anyone's guess whether or not 3D Touch would make sense on tablet-sized screens. Well, iOS 10 beta 2 apparently has 3D Touch-like functionality on the iPad thanks to the Apple Pencil, which has been discovered to support deep presses.
Using an Apple Pencil, it's possible to do things like clear all notifications with a deep press on the latest beta of iOS 10. Check out our video showing the feature in action and, as usually, let us know what you guys think of this.
Early Geekbench 3 benchmark of the Apple-designed A10 system-on-a-chip—which will be the next iPhone and iPad's engine—was posted Thursday by Dutch blog TechTastic.nl. Purported scores suggest the device may not be much speedier than the iPhone 6s and iPad Pro. The upcoming chip scored a tad more than last year’s A9 powering the iPhone 6s series and a little bit faster than the A9X in the iPad Pro.
On the other hand, the benchmarked A10 is almost certainly a prototype unit so final scores should be higher than is currently the case.