Apple will release a new 10.2-inch iPad later this year, according to reports.
The iPad, which will be the first to come shipped with iPadOS, will serve as a replacement for the $329 entry-level 9.7-inch iPad, according to DigiTimes, and be released in the third quarter of this year, most likely by September.
It has been suggested that Apple will lift the lid on its iPad refreshes as this year’s September event, where the company will also show off new iPhones and Apple Watches.
In the past, Apple has released new iPads in October, from 2012 to 2014 and again in 2018, but releasing an iPad in September would not be totally unusual.
Indeed, the iPad Pro and the iPad mini 4 were revealed in September 2015, and more recently, Apple has been dropping new iPad and Mac products online without much fanfare, changing its strategy.
Whilst a new iPad has been rumored for a while, it’s important to note that DigiTimes does not have the most reliable track record when it comes to predicting Apple release dates.
For example, the news organization said Apple would release a new 16-inch MacBook in September, but another report on the same date suggested it would come in October.
Still, many sources have suggested a new 10.2-inch iPad could be coming this year, with Ming-Chi Kuo amongst them.
Journalists have also spotted unreleased iPad models on the Eurasian regulatory database, which is legally required before they’re released to the public.
Should the 10.2-inch iPad rumor be true, it’s expected to feature a larger display than the current 9.7-inch iPad and may feature smaller bezels.
Whether it will come without a home button, however, remains to be seen, as Apple has kept them on all but the iPad Pro so far.
Are you excited about a new iPad? Let us know on Twitter @AppleMagazine and check back soon for the latest, as and when we get it, direct from Cupertino and around the world.
