The new supersized iPad Pro/Plus tablet will feature a Force Touch screen and an optional Bluetooth stylus, according to a new report. The report also claims production will begin shortly, with a projected release date later in 2015.
We've been bringing you the latest news and rumors surrounding Apple's introduction of a new jumbo-sized iPad, expected to be named either the iPad Pro or the iPad Plus. Several months ago, purported renders of the device leaked, reveling an ultrathin tablet measuring approximately 9.17 by 12 by 0.28 in (223 by 306 by 7.2 mm).
Now, highly respected KGI securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a stellar record in reporting the latest Apple news, has noted that the new tablet is set to feature a Force Touch screen, activated with an optional Bluetooth stylus available for separate purchase. The stylus is necessary to use the feature due to poor yield rates with finger-activated use on larger screens.
"We also believe a Force Touch-enabled stylus will enhance productivity as it would offer more precise operation than using only fingers," Kuo wrote. "Technically, we believe the stylus can be made compatible with iPad models other than the 12.9-inch version, but it depends on the support of software."
Kuo expects that Apple will manufacture 3.5 million of the iPad Pro/Plus, as opposed to one million of the accompanying stylus. Production is slated to begin in September or October, with release later in the year, just in time for the holiday shopping season.
Apple's new supersized iPad is an attempt to counteract the slowing demand for tablets. Many consumers have been making the move to larger-sized phones or phablets, such as Apple's own iPhone 6 Plus. The IPad Pro/Plus is expected to appeal to the professional market, and the inclusion of a stylus option could increase its appeal.
Steve Jobs was notoriously against the inclusion of a stylus with any of Apple's products, but with Tim Cook now moving the company in a new direction, it looks like Apple's first stylus-enabled device is on the way. The iPad Pro/Plus will likely launch alongside an updated iPad mini 4, which is expected to be released in the fall.
