iPad sales have been trending downward for quite some time but Apple has no intention of giving up on its iconic tablet just yet. Per a new Barclays Research report obtained by MacRumors, Apple is currently planning to launch three new iPad models this coming March, one of which might very well revitalize Apple’s beleaguered tablet lineup.
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Per sources in Apple’s supply chain, the new report claims that two of Apple’s new iPads will be refreshed versions of the current 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models. As for the third, Apple is reportedly planning to release an iPad model that may provide us with a sneak peak at what Apple has in store for us with the iPhone 8. Specifically, Apple this March plans to roll out a 10.9-inch iPad with an edge to edge display, a similar design to what the company may showcase on its next-gen iPhone.
[Barclays] said the 10.9-inch model’s borderless design will allow for it to be the same physical size as the current-generation 9.7-inch iPad Pro. That means the display itself will need to have an edge-to-edge design, possibly signaling the removal of the Home button.
If this rumored iPad model pans out, it could be just the thing Apple needs to inject a bit of life into an iPad lineup that has seen better days. During Apple’s most recent earnings report covering the company’s September quarter, iPad sales hit a new five year low. And though Tim Cook still likes to claim that the iPad is the future of computing, it’s hard to look at the cold hard data and agree.
That notwithstanding, a rumored design refresh could help boost sales and provide existing iPad owners with more of an incentive to upgrade than ever before. Incidentally, Apple’s iPad Mini 4 will likely not receive a refresh anytime soon.
