Rumor: Apple to ship 10.5-inch iPad Pro in 2017, introduce AMOLED iPad in 2018

It looks like there’s a good chance Apple will be adding to its iPad Pro offerings.

Per KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is expected to develop a 10.5-inch iPad Pro next year. In addition, Apple is rumored to launch a second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 2017, as well as a “low cost” 9.7-inch iPad model. The iPad Pros are expected to include an A10X processor, while the more-affordable 9.7-inch iPad will have the A9X chip.

Furthermore, KGI’s research predicts that Apple will release a new “revolutionary” iPad model, but we won’t see it until 2018 at the earliest. This next-gen iPad will sport a flexible AMOLED screen and “radical” changes to the form factor and the user experience. According to KGI, the AMOLED iPad will “follow the footsteps of the iPhone,” suggesting that an upcoming iPhone will be first to feature an AMOLED screen.

The research note states that the introduction of three new iPad models in 2017 won’t boost tablet sales for Apple. KGI predicts that iPad shipments will decline by 10 to 20 percent in 2017 with Apple expected to ship 45 to 50 million iPads in 2017. This number has been revised to 35 to 40 million units given that Apple isn’t expected to release a new iPad model in 2016.

So, it looks like a new “middle ground” iPad Pro is in the works.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via Macworld