I’m an iPad fan and have been user since the original back in 2010. And here we are. This is an iPad-centric site and new iPad Pros are coming tomorrow. Normally I would be really excited. Normally there would be exclamation marks trailing the title of this post and I would be anticipating getting home from work to get my hands on new toys. Normally, we wouldn’t find ourselves in the middle of a pandemic.
Apple has just announced and hasn’t even delivered the latest refresh of their iPad Pros and the news of the new just can’t be stopped. The new 11″ and 12.9″ models are modest upgrades, but they are arriving along with the new mouse and trackpad features included in iPadOS 13.4, and the new Magic Keyboard that is coming in May looks pretty amazing. However, even after these announcements earlier this week, the rumors of another iPad Pro update in the Fall still persist.
Earlier today I read an article by Tom Warren at The Verge entitled Apple finally admits Microsoft was right about tablets. I wasn’t especially surprised considering that Warren has always been completely MS-centric. He’s a good writer and does his job well, but I he’s not the guy I look to for even-handed reporting.
As a full-time Windows user myself and someone who certainly doesn’t dislike the platform, I still heartily disagree with his take in this article.
I have wanted Apple to go all out and give us their version of a standard laptop keyboard for the iPad Pro for a while now. Even if you like the Smart Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio, they aren’t what I’m talking about. Those were thin, light and mobile at the expense of all else. You know, things like backlit keys. Or a key mechanism. ANY key mechanism at all.
So Apple didn’t waste any time after accidentally leaking their new iPad Pro models a couple of days ago, releasing them this morning at Apple.com. As expected with all of the rumors and leaks, they have refreshed both the 11″ and 12.9″ models with new processors and cameras. Both models are available for preorder today, with the 11″ model starting at $799 and the 12.9″ version at $999.
Photo Source: iPhone In Canada
Yesterday brought all the proof we need that new iPad Pros are coming very soon. First off, we got an old reliable indicator from across the world. The Eurasian Economic Commission, which has turned out to be a very reliable indicator of impending Apple releases, posted filings for new iPad Pros yesterday.
9to5Mac has been a trusted source for Apple news for a long time. However, I didn’t really consider them to be quite on the level with Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo when it came to new device and iOS rumors. Gui Rambo has made quite an impact over the last couple of years revealing lots of information hidden inside of Apple’s various OS betas, but those details don’t start coming until after WWDC, when those of us with Apple Dev Accounts get our hands on the goodies.
Last Fall, Ming-Chi Kuo made a prediction that Apple was developing a new 16″ MacBook Pro and a new 12.9″ iPad Pro for release in the Fall of 2020. Now he is back (via MacRumors) with a new report that Apple will have four additional devices to go with these, including two additional iPad models.
Contrary to what you might think after reading that headline, I am not a hater. Not at all. I have actually been a fan of John Gruber’s writing and podcasting for several years and I typically agree with his point of view regarding Apple and the tech world, in general. However, I can’t say that’s the case when it comes to the iPad.
I will be the first to admit that I don’t have a great track record with predictions. That’s probably because I tend to swing for the fence a lot. No guts, no glory, right? Well, that philosophy leads to a fair amount of strikeouts. However, it will also net you some home runs, as well.
I can’t help but feel like I got one thanks to yesterday’s report from The Information that Apple will be adding a trackpad to the Smart Keyboard. Before getting into the details of that, let’s check the tape for a moment.
So I have been pretty adamant that, short of splitting up iPad Pro sizes across several months, or creating an additional model, there is NO WAY that Apple would release upgraded iPad Pros twice in one year. However, despite my skepticism, the evidence that another iPad Pro is slated for a Fall release just keeps mounting.