With rumors circulating about an upcoming iPad Pro update, which could be announced as part of Apple ‘s alleged incident Tuesday, March 23, it appears that at least one accessory manufacturer has already started preparing.
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A photo shared on Reddit today shows what looks like a Speck folio listed as compatible with the as yet unnamed 2021 model of the 11-inch iPad Pro, plus on older models of the 11-inch iPad Pro and the 10.9-inch iPad Air. The customer who submitted the photo said they found the folio on Target’s shelf, but when they tried to buy it, the payment system said the item cannot be sold until April 6th.
While the packaging doesn’t clearly state that the new 11-inch iPad is a Pro model, that’s definitely the device this would refer to, as there are no other rumors to come. sporting an 11-inch display of her sport. The ninth generation iPad, for example, is rumored to have a 10.5-inch display like the third-generation iPad Air.
While it’s hard to draw any solid conclusions from photos like this, it’s possible that Speck has learned that the next 11-inch iPad Pro will be very similar in dimensions to the standard model. This should come as no surprise, as there have been no rumors of a major redesign for the next iPad Pro, with key new features expected to include a Mini-LED display, a faster A14X chip, and 5G support on cell models.
We wouldn’t read too much into Target’s April 6 sale date for a Speck folio either, but it’s at least within the ball park of late March to early April for the next update iPad Pro reported by DigiTimes earlier today.
Interestingly, most rumors haven’t mentioned the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro and not the 11-inch model, but the devices are usually updated at the same time. March is a common month for Apple to announce new or updated products, with other rumored products including the long-awaited AirTags, new Apple TV, new AirPods, and more silicon Macs Apple.
Apple last updated its iPad Pro lineup in March 2020 with a slightly improved A12Z chip, Ultra Wide camera, LiDAR Scanner, and improved sound microphones.
(Thanks, Greg!)