Latest leak of Apple iPad Pro specs includes NFC capability, Force Touch support and A9 processor

The latest leak involving the long-rumored Apple iPad Pro comes from an anonymous source who confirms that the tablet will feature a 12.9-inch screen. The display will feature Apple's Force Touch technology which measures how hard a user is pressing on the screen. Force Touch is currently employed on the Apple Watch. The new slate will also feature a USB Type-C port which allows the user to plug in his USB cable either side up. Early case prototypes show that there will be a second port on the side of the tablet with the usual Lightning connection on the bottom of the slate.

Also expected to be offered as an accessory is a stylus that will connect to the tablet via Bluetooth, and will feature pressure-sensitive input. Connected Apple analyst Ming Chi-Kuo said earlier this year that Apple will release an optional stylus for the iPad Pro at the same time that the tablet is launched. According to today's leak, the iPad Pro will include an NFC chip which will allow the tablet to be used by merchants as a point-of-sale terminal in conjunction with Apple Pay. Inside the tablet will be the Apple A9, which is the same processor expected to be used on the next iPhone models. The current top-of-the-line iPad, the Apple iPad Air 2, is powered by the Apple A8X which is an enhanced version of the A8 chip found inside the Apple iPhone 6 and Apple iPhone 6 Plus.

There is no word on when the tablet will be introduced and how much it will cost. The actual name of the product is also in flux as some expect Apple to call the slate the iPad Plus keeping the "Plus" name it uses on its iPhone 6 phablet. Just last week, another leak revealed that the 12.9-inch iPad will feature dimensions of 223mm x 306mm x 7.2mm.

Other features not mentioned in the new leak include a quad speaker system, an optional QWERTY keyboard and a rapid recharge feature.

source: AppleInsider