Apple iPad Pro 2 & Apple Pencil 2 update: Microsoft Surface Pro 5 toughest competitor to next-gen iPad models
If recent reports are to be believed, a supply chain report claims that Apple Pencil 2 may launch alongside the Apple iPad Pro 2017 models. Until now, there have been hundreds of reports on upcoming iPad Pro models though Apple Pencil 2 always gave a skip. Finally, an unconfirmed report on Chinese social media has shed some light on the device. Even though Weibo chatters are hardly credible, this report from supply chain sources has instilled fresh excitement in fans about the accessory.
According to 9to5 Mac, patent filings point towards various possibilities in terms of what the next generation Apple Pencil would be capable of. Apple patents a lot of possibilities that do not ship ultimately. MacBook Trackpad, iPhone Support and Smart Cover Integration have all appeared in patent filings before. The current Apple Pencil has received a lot of praise for its minimal design, low latency performance and ease-of-use. However, it has also been criticised for lack of customisation, no eraser and problems surrounding where to keep it.
Reports in August 2016 claimed that the Cupertino-based tech giant is planning a new Apple Pencil, Apple Pencil 2, that would be able to annotate in apps such as Mail and Safari. This would not require new hardware and updates to the iOS may enable this feature. Meanwhile, the Apple iPad Pro models are huge anticipated this year. Apple may introduce an improved 12.9-inch iPad Pro, a new 10.5-inch model with reduced bezels and a low cost 9.7-inch variant.
Last spring, Apple refreshed the iPad line-up with new hardware by introducing the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. It was soon followed by refreshes to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and Apple Pencil. Tech enthusiasts believe that the Apple iPad Pro 2 could be released in March and it will have no bezels and Home button. The iPad Pro 2 may have drawers on its case for keyboards. Another highly-anticipated tablet is the Microsoft Surface Pro 5, which will reportedly provide the toughest competition to the Apple iPad Pro 2.
