Report: Apple won't release a new 9.7-inch iPad Air this year

Can the world survive without a new 9.7-inch Apple iPad introduced this year? It might have to if Chinese publication Economic Daily News is right. A reliable source in the past, the Economic Daily News says that Foxconn has received orders for the 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro, and for the Apple iPad mini 4.

The buzz from Apple's camp is that the tech titan wants the larger iPad Pro to be its flagship slate this year, which could mean that a new Apple iPad Air gets delayed until 2016. Another possible scenario has Apple offering a slightly improved iPad Air this year, similar to what the company did with the Apple iPad mini 3 last year.

Leaked images over the last few months reveal that the iPad Pro should come with four speakers, one near each corner. In addition, a second connector port has been seen on the side of the tablet in some images. This port (possibly a USB Type-C) is in a perfect position to allow the device to be charged while standing up in a dock. A report published earlier this year by the Wall Street Journal said that the iPad Pro would come with a stylus and Apple would offer an optional keyboard and mouse for the product.

Apple is expected to promote the iPad Pro as the perfect tablet for the enterprise and educational markets.

source: EconomicDailyNews (translated) via BGR

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