Apple's iPad Pro 2 is expected to come in three models this year, ready to go head to head with the powerful Microsoft Surface Pro 4.
The iPad Pro is currently available in 9.7- and 12.9-inch configurations and it's Apple's most powerful tablet so far. The two iPad Pro models are widely considered to be among the best tablets on the market, but they're due for a refresh and the upgraded models are expected to be even more powerful.
10.5- Or 10.9-Inch iPad Pro 2 With New Design
The 2017 iPad Pro 2 lineup will reportedly include a 10.5-inch variant, in addition to the 9.7- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models we've seen so far. Other reports have indicated that the new screen size would be 10.9 inches, not 10.5. As expected, the 10.5- or 10.9-inch size never-before-seen on an iPad model stirred the most interest so far, especially since this version is rumored to sport a revolutionary design.
More specifically, the 10.5- or 10.9-inch iPad Pro 2 will reportedly boast a bezel-free display and a home button embedded underneath the screen, just like on the rumored iPhone 8.
The mid-sized iPad Pro 2 would reportedly have roughly the same size of the 9.7-inch version despite sporting a notably bigger display, which indicates that Apple could unleash its sleekest and most svelte tablet yet.
iPad Pro 2 Rumored Specs
The iPad Pro 2 lineup is expected to rock top-notch specs with robust configurations. Rumored specs include Apple's A10X processor, 4 GB of RAM and possibly iOS 10.3 on board out of the box, complete with its touted "Theater" mode.
The iPad Pro 2 could also boast True Tone displays, Force Touch or 3D Touch and more compelling specs and features that would take on the popular Microsoft Surface Pro 4.
iPad Pro 2 vs Surface Pro 4
As a reminder, the Surface Pro 4 features a large 12.3-inch display with a resolution of 2,736 x 1,824 pixels (267 ppi), 4 GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front shooter, sixth-generation Intel Core processors up to i7, up to 1 TB of storage, and a bevy of software features designed to increase productivity.
The iPad Pro 2 could go head to head with the Surface Pro 4 in terms of specs and it's expected to give Microsoft's tablet a run for its money, but one aspect could play a big role in one's decision to choose one high-end tablet over the other. Just like the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the iPad Pro 2 is rumored to ditch the headphone jack and this could be a turnoff for some interested customers. The Surface Pro 4, meanwhile, has a headphone jack and can be customized with up to 16 GB of RAM.
On the other hand, the iPad Pro 2 could get an edge over its rival thanks to the iOS 10.3 Theater mode, the bezel-free display and the seamless home button with a fingerprint scanner embedded into the display.
Just as the Microsoft Surface Pro 4, the iPad Pro line aims to serve as a desktop replacement and the iPad Pro 2 series should take things to the next level.
When it comes to the release date, the iPad Pro 2 lineup is expected to arrive in March 2017, but nothing is confirmed at this point. All purported specs, features, and upgrades are still in the rumor state for now, so take everything with a grain of salt until an official announcement.
