Apple iPad Pro 2017 release date, news & update: Three variants to be launched next year, including a borderless model

Apple is cooking up a lot of ideas for its product line-up next year. It has been previously reported that the tech giant would be releasing three iPhone variants in 2017. Now it seems that it is planning to do the same with the iPad.

The Cupertino-based company is going to launch three new iPad Pro variants by March 2017, according to Barclays Research analysts Thomas O'Malley, Blayne Curtis, Jerry Zhang and Christopher Hemmelgarn as reported by MacRumors. The new iPads will reportedly include revamped versions of the 9.7-inch and the 12.9-inch variants, as well as a new 10.9-inch model that is said to be bezel-free. The analysts got their information from Apple’s Asian supply chain.

According to the analysts, the new 10.9-inch iPad’s edge-to-edge design will be able to match the actual dimensional extent of the present 9.7-inch iPad Pro. Apple will eventually have to get rid of the new iPad Pro’s Home button for it to be completely borderless. All three upcoming iPads will reportedly include quad microphones instead of the present dual structure. The new Apple tablets will also keep the 3.5 mm headphone jacks.

The Barclays Research analysts believe that the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro will be the more economical model, just like the 7.9-inch iPad Mini. They do not expect the mentioned iPad Mini model to be updated by Apple. The company will just supposedly carry on with the manufacture and distribution of the iPad Mini 4, which was released in September of last year.

Previous reports also state that Apple will equip the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with True Tone display just like the current 9.7-inch model. The feature is said to use state-of-the-art four-channel ambient light sensors to spontaneously adjust the colour and depth of the display in order to suit the natural light settings. The new and larger iPad will also be furnished with a 12 MP iSight main camera and True Tone flash.