iPad Pro To Ship In Time For Holiday Shopping Season: Kuo

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Apple’s much-rumored jumbo-sized iPad Pro will come with Force Touch technology, just like the Apple Watch and newest MacBooks. Now reputed KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that the 12.9-inch tablet will also feature an optional, Force Touch-compatible stylus. Kuo issued a new research report on Wednesday, a copy of which was obtained by 9to5Mac.

Cheng Uei to make stylus for the iPad Pro

The stylus is designed to take advantage of Force Touch that would make it easier to navigate the increased surface area of the iPad Pro. The analyst said the Force Touch module will be the same as the one in the upcoming iPhone 6S. Cheng Uei will be the sole supplier for the stylus.

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro will enter mass production in September or October.  KGI Securities said shipments will begin in time for the crucial holiday shopping season. The analyst expects Apple to ship up to 5.5 million units if the iPad Pro in 2015. Since the Bluetooth stylus will be sold separately, its shipment is expected to be about one million units.

Ming-Chi Kuo described Force Touch in the iPad Pro as “an evolution, rather than a revolution.” Market feedback of Force Touch in Apple Watch and MacBook suggests that the technology alone wouldn’t drive massive hardware sales. But Apple is committed to consistency in its devices. So, Force Touch will be implemented in all of its future products.

iPad Pro stylus likely to be a simple accessory

Apple has been testing different screen sizes for the iPad Pro for at least two years. Reports of the new iPad shipping with a stylus have been doing rounds for months. In January, Kuo said in a research note that the iPad Pro stylus could be a simple accessory that would offer more precise inputs than fingertips. But he didn’t rule out the possibility of a more advanced stylus.

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is widely expected to feature a USB Type-C connector, wireless NFC connectivity for Apple Pay, and a display resolution of 2732 x 2048. The device may also sport the same Series 7000 aluminum alloy used in the Apple Watch Sport.

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