9to5Mac has released another report about the upcoming 9.7-inch iPad Pro expected to be launched at Apple’s upcoming event. The report states that the new iPad’s cost will start higher than any other 9.7-inch tablet Apple has offered before at $599 and be available in 32GB and 128GB storage configurations. These facts the site notes are according to their sources.
For $599 according to 9to5Mac, a customer could get the 9.7-inch iPad Pro with 32GB of storage and WiFi only, which balances out Apple’s current iPad lineup with the Air 2 costing $499 for 16GB of storage. Higher priced models of the new smaller Pro would get someone 128GB of storage and LTE capabilities, something the company has already done with the larger 12.9-inch Pro.
The site notes that the new smaller Pro will not replace the Air 2 in the lineup, which if it did would not make much sense at all. The Air 2 is likely to keep it’s current starting price as well which again is $499. The original Air, however, looks to be discontinued as production of the older 9.7-inch tablet is winding down alongside supply at retailers. The 12.9-inch Pro and iPad mini 4 are also expected to not be discontinued or updated at the upcoming event.
It’s going to be interesting to see exactly what Apple has in store for the iPad lineup this year, as it’s been pretty messed up for a long time. What I’d do is get rid of the iPad mini 2 and original Air which, after the event, would leave the mini 4, Air 2, 9.7-inch Pro, and 12.9-inch Pro. Much cleaner, right? Of course, if Apple lowered the price of the mini 2 to say $199 they could keep it around for another year as a budget-friendly option, however this seems unlikely by Apple considering their history.
The 9.7-inch Pro is also expected to feature the same A9X processor found in the 12.9-inch Pro alongside screen technology that supports the Apple Pencil, quad speakers, a 12MP camera with full 4K video support, and a Smart Connector for attaching accessories such as a smaller Smart Keyboard. It’s also suggested that the screen on the new Pro model with feature brightness and anti-glare improvements when compared to the iPad Air 2.
What do you think will be the fate of the upcoming 9.7-inch Pro? Will it be set at this starting price and come in 32Gb and 128GB storage capacities? Let us know your option in the comments below!
