When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works

Home / News / Production of rumoured iPad Pro reportedly delayed until later this year

Production of rumoured iPad Pro reportedly delayed until later this year

The expected 12.9in super-sized tablet won’t start coming off the assembly line anytime soon

Calling an unannounced, not-officially-acknowledged gadget “delayed” is somewhat mad, we admit. But earlier reports claimed that Apple was about to start producing its so-called iPad Pro, and that’s apparently not happening now.

Instead, Bloomberg says that Apple will start producing the purportedly 12.9-inch tablet around September. Weak availability of display panels is pegged as the reason for the delay, although you’d think with Apple’s money and muscle, it could make just about anything happen.

But an autumn debut makes more sense with Apple’s tablet release cycle in recent years. The first three iPads all launched in spring, but then Apple pushed up the release of the fourth-gen model and shipped it just a half year after the prior model. Since then, iPads and iPhones alike have released towards the end of each year (current iPad Air 2 shown).

We’ve heard rumblings about the iPad Pro for almost a year and a half now. Reports claim that the device is planned to be the first modern Apple touch device to feature an official stylus, and a 12.2in display figure was thrown around earlier, but more recently reports have settled on the Pro having a 12.9in screen.

Apple’s tablet sales have cooled a bit of late (unlike iPhone sales), which the company believes is due to a longer lifespan before users feel compelled to upgrade. The much-rumoured iPad Pro is expected to help gear Apple tablets towards business users and creative types, thus opening up a new market for them. It’ll just be a bit longer than anticipated at this point, it seems.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Profile image of Andrew Hayward Andrew Hayward Freelance Writer

About

Andrew writes features, news stories, reviews, and other pieces, often when the UK home team is off-duty or asleep. I'm based in Chicago with my lovely wife, amazing son, and silly cats, and my writing about games, gadgets, esports, apps, and plenty more has appeared in more than 75 publications since 2006.

Areas of expertise

Video games, gadgets, apps, smart home