14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft and Apple are going head to head in the 2-in-1 market, despite the latter originally trying to ignore this new form factor and even laughing off the first versions of the Surface tablet.
Apple is now very close to launching a new rival to Microsoft’s Surface, with sources indicating that the next month’s WWDC conference will host the unveiling of a 10.5-inch iPad Pro featuring a series of improvements, including a new look with narrower bezels.
And now new leaks and renders provide us with a glimpse into how the new iPad Pro models are going to look, especially because rumor has it that Apple wants to fit a 10.5-inch screen into the chassis of the original model with 9.7-inch display.
And by the looks of things, this is indeed what Apple is planning to do. Photos tweeted by @ShaiMizrachi and revealing a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro case seem to suggest that the new model would be only slightly bigger than the current version, which means that despite the bigger display, the overall dimensions of the device would be almost the same.
The Home button will live on
According to estimates posted by iDropNews, the upcoming iPad Pro will feature 7mm side bezels and 19mm bezels on the top and the bottom of the display.
A separate schematic posted by 9to5mac after seeing a similar 10.5-inch iPad Pro case reveals that the new model will measure 10.13 x 7.06 x 0.25 inches (257 x 179 x 6.4 mm).
Other features include the typical home button, which Apple isn’t ready to give up on at this point, despite rumors that it would go away on the next-generation iPhone, four speakers (two at the top and two at the bottom), plus two microphones (one on front and another one on the back).
Apple will most likely unveil an improved keyboard as well, plus updates to the Pencil, in order to stay close to Microsoft, which has also revealed refined versions of these accessories at the latest Surface event.
The debut of the new iPad Pro will take place next month at WWDC, while pre-orders should start shortly after the show or in late June. The first units will be shipped in July.
