New rumor claims 2018 iPad Pros will be smaller, drop headphone jacks
Apple's anticipated iPad Pro refresh will see both the 10.5- and 12.9-inch models shrink in some dimensions, but also lose their headphone jacks, a report claimed on Friday.
A mockup of a 2018 iPad Pro design.
The 10.5-inch model will go from 250.6 x 174.1 x 6.1 millimeters to 247.5 x 178.7 x 6, according to Japanese site Macotakara. The 12.9-inch device will allegedly switch from 305.7 x 220.6 x 6.9 millimeters to 280 x 215 x 6.4.
Those specifications would be consistent with multiple rumors that Apple is planning to bring the Pro line closer to an edge-to-edge display, akin to the iPhone X. The absence of a headphone jack hasn't been strongly hinted at however, and Macotakara further says that Apple won't bundle Lightning-to-3.5mm adapters, which might make for an abrupt transition.
Another potentially dubious claim in the report is that while the new Pros will adopt Face ID -- something that has been asserted repeatedly -- they won't support recognition in landscape mode. That would cause trouble, since many people use iPads primarily or exclusively in that orientation, especially if they own a keyboard.
Finally, Macotakara indicates that Smart Connectors will move to the "lower rear side" of iPads, near their Lightning connectors.
Apple is expected to ship its new Pro models sometime this fall.
A mockup of a 2018 iPad Pro design.
The 10.5-inch model will go from 250.6 x 174.1 x 6.1 millimeters to 247.5 x 178.7 x 6, according to Japanese site Macotakara. The 12.9-inch device will allegedly switch from 305.7 x 220.6 x 6.9 millimeters to 280 x 215 x 6.4.
Those specifications would be consistent with multiple rumors that Apple is planning to bring the Pro line closer to an edge-to-edge display, akin to the iPhone X. The absence of a headphone jack hasn't been strongly hinted at however, and Macotakara further says that Apple won't bundle Lightning-to-3.5mm adapters, which might make for an abrupt transition.
Another potentially dubious claim in the report is that while the new Pros will adopt Face ID -- something that has been asserted repeatedly -- they won't support recognition in landscape mode. That would cause trouble, since many people use iPads primarily or exclusively in that orientation, especially if they own a keyboard.
Finally, Macotakara indicates that Smart Connectors will move to the "lower rear side" of iPads, near their Lightning connectors.
Apple is expected to ship its new Pro models sometime this fall.
Comments
If you need it small, a new 9.7” without the bezel would be about the same size.
I would prefer to wait for LPDDR5 RAM, 5G, WPA3 support etc.
With iPhone X design, the price would be iPhone X too. It's seldom 'm buying an iPad again and again.
There once was a time when Apple knew better than I did about design. There was time when they knew better what I wanted than I did, and when I saw an Apple product announcement I was filled with joy and excitement. That joy has not entirely vanished but in recent years I am more annoyed than happy with what Apple kicks out. It's either Johnny Ive minimalism taken to an extreme (notches, butterfly keyboards, missing SD card slots, etc.), or perhaps it's Johnny Ive apathy. Maybe it is the lack of fanny-kicking by Steve Jobs. Or maybe it is all of the above. But as long as we keep buying their stuff and worshiping all of Apple's design decisions with criticism or question, there is no incentive for them to change course and design something better. If Apple continues down this path, I shutter to think what kind of designs we'll have 10 years hence.
The stupid moves like the headphone jack likely have little to do with Ive. When Apple puts a custom port in a machine it is there for lock in. Vendors dont have to sign up to use the analog jack, lighting though is controlled by Apple and thus you have to be in Apples good graces too use it. Lighting gives Apple the opportunity to screwcover both the consummer and the third party supplier.
Id like to see Apple switch back to a standard USB port of some variant. USB-C would be the smart choice. But even here you have issues trying to charge while the head phones are on. I pad really needs tdc
I'm not in love with the notch, but whether you love it or hate it, it has become somewhat of a signature and visual clue to signal that you are driving one of Apple's latest and greatest iDevices. It's almost like the distinctive grill on a BMW, which is why the droidclones are copying it and dressing up their phones in similar looking clothing. Yeah ... pathetic, but what else is new. I'm more concerned about the lack of bezel and fingerprints. However, rumors are that Gorilla Glass 6 may be more fingerprint and smudge resistant, so everything may work out just fine.
I too would like to see a new iPad mini but I realize it is highly unlikely. If you slim down the bezels on the Mini it starts looking a lot like one of the jumbo sized iPhones. But it would still be bigger than the biggest iPhone. The beauty of such a device would be one-handed operation of a real iPad device, something that some folks like customer service, on the floor sales people, field service techs, rental car return workers, mobile checkout terminals, etc., would find very handy. Being too large for regular pockets but still a very lightweight one-handed device would be awesome but it may exist in a niche of awesomeness that doesn't warrant the kind of investment Apple is willing to make. They like canyon-sized niches that can be filled with lots of money.