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.
Photo Source: Ben Geskin on Twitter
Before new Apple devices arrive, we usually start to see some evidence of production from the supply chain. It may be photos, diagrams or descriptions, but they usually show up once a device is in open production and out in front of more people. All it takes is one with a smartphone and a free moment.
A second reliable source that has emerged over the last few years is case leaks. Case manufacturers go all out to get their hands on the specs and designs of new Apple devices early so they can be one of the first to market. They know Apple device owners are interested in protection and that most iPhone and iPad users have cases. Even if it’s just as a temporary stand-in, I always get a case along with a new device if I don’t have an existing one that will work. Sounds like the case manufacturers know what they are doing.
A few days ago, I wrote the following:
There’s no way to know if the early or late rumors are correct yet, but if we don’t start seeing some actual hardware leaks soon, you can pretty much rule out early. And like I said before, don’t expect two Pro releases in one product year.
Well, it looks like that supply chain information pointing to a Spring iPad Pro update is now starting to come in.
There have been a few different rumors regarding new iPad Pros coming in 2020 going back to last year. The most common is that Apple will refresh their lineup soon, possibly as early as next month. That timeline matches up with the typical 18 month life cycle for the Pros, so it seemed to make sense.
In what sometimes seems like another life, I was a music student and then a professional musician (for a little while) and a teacher (for longer). I was a percussionist all through middle and high school and absolutely loved it. I won some awards over the years and made several honor bands, including All State my senior year. I got scholarship offers to several schools and ended up attending Louisiana State University for four years to study music. I got a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance and then got my Masters’ Degree from Florida State after that.
There have been rumors of a few different Apple devices coming in the first half of the year, many of which have come from noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Now he’s back with another projection that we should be seeing new gear sooner rather than later.