Supply chain sources cited by Digitimes back a KGI report that the iPad Pro is expected to begin production in September, ramping up into mass production from October. While Digitimes has a spotty track record, this report is more specific than many, providing details of display suppliers for the new device.
The device will enter production by the end of the third quarter and go into mass production in the fourth. Sharp will provide Open Cell LCD displays while [Foxconn subsidiary] GIS will provide GF touch panels.
Samsung Display and TPK will be secondary suppliers, with TPK responsible for touch modules and Samsung for displays as well as LCD assembly …
The display is expected to feature a resolution of 2732×2048, the first indication of this found in iOS 9 code and seemingly confirmed by analytics data.
Digitime‘s sources also reportedly estimated 2015 shipments of 4-5M units, roughly in line with KGI’s estimates of 5.5M.
It’s still unclear whether Apple will announce the device at its annual iPhone event on or around September 9th, or at a separate iPad-focused event in October.
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As someone who works for a manufacturer who (still) teaches computer / computer peripheral repair courses to Authorized Service Technicians I feel that this device will become a seller in that service sector market. Most of my students still drag laptops to service calls – with the pdf version of service manuals loaded on them – on their service calls. A larger iPad will reduce the need for the laptops and allow them to “slim down” their carry case.
I welcome this new iPad and while I think it may be too big for the home consumer – I think that it will sell in the education / repair business.
Yes, I agree this is going to primarily be an enterprise device, but I’ll certainly be curious to try one.
As will I!
I had the 2nd generation Kindle and enjoyed it immensely. With all the long distance and lengthy travel that I did, it was wonderful to have numerous books on the Kindle instead of dragging several hardback books with me. BUT . . . When Amazon released the Kindle DX – I was right on that. Much bigger screen size made reading that much more enjoyable, with only a minimum of weight and size.
And even though I am currently using the iPad Air 2 – I will certainly be very interested in trying on the iPad pro.
How do you need an iPad pro to do that today? Apple and other companies have already moved to iPad for servicing.
One iPad Pro, an Apple stylus and all textbooks converted to digital with Apple’s textbook initiative that never really went anywhere is all that virtually every student on the planet needs. No pencils, paper, carrying around textbooks, nope, just carrying around one iPad pro and an apple stylus. Take notes watch detailed informative videos in line in the textbooks, the ability for the teacher to make teacher’s notes and sync them to every students textbook… The list goes on and on of possibilities but it’s not going to happen for at least a decade, not Apple’s fault, just school system’s.
Colleges are already making the move. The textbooks for the Georgia Tech MBA are all on an iPad they give you for “free”…