Apple could still launch a new iPad Pro at Apple Park

Could Apple be saving more surprises for Apple Park’s grand opening in April? Oscar Raymundo reports

You could argue that Apple just had its first ever non-event. As we looked at earlier (page 4), the firm launched a red iPhone 7, and a bunch of new iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands. In addition, Apple increased the iPhone SE storage size options to 32- and 128GB, up from 16- and 64GB.

The simply named iPad serves as a replacement for the iPad Air line. Starting at £339, the iPad is actually cheaper

and faster than the most recent iPad Air 2. The iPad line-up reshuffle also claimed another casualty: the iPad mini 2. Customers interested in purchasing a 7.9in iPad will have to settle for just one model in one storage size, the 128GB iPad mini 4 for £419.

Typically, Apple would announce all these new products during a spring event. Last year, for example, Apple debuted the iPhone SE and the 9.7in iPad Pro in March. In 2015, Apple used the spring event to unveil the 12in MacBook and Apple Watch.

Has Apple shifted its product launch strategy? This understated product rollout could seem to suggest that Apple is opting to forego splashy events. Instead, this time Apple chose to simply update its online store with new stuff. If this were any other year, it might be safe to assume that a spring event has been shelved. Perhaps Apple decided to shift focus to its September event, which is already highly anticipated given the rumours of a tenth anniversary iPhone unveiling. Or maybe there’s One More Thing coming this spring after all.

New iPad Pro at Apple Park?

Apple already has an event slated this spring: the grand opening of its Apple Park spaceship campus in Cupertino. Could Apple use the occasion to reveal a new product then, too? After all, what better way to celebrate the new headquarters than with a product unveiling?

Plus, there’s been speculation that Apple was working on a new iPad, but not the one we got. The model we’re still expecting is a 10.5in iPad Pro, one that would bridge the size gap between the 9.7in model and the 12.9in iPad. That Pro could still be on reserve to be announced.

Furthermore, there was speculation that Apple would refresh the iPhone SE line with an SE 2 this year. Such device could still launch, but it’s not as likely seeing how Apple has just upgraded the original’s storage sizes.

Ever since Apple launched two versions of the iPhone with the 6 and 6 Plus, the iOS device line-up has only expanded. There are now enough iPhone and iPad models of almost every size, storage capacity, and colour. And there will be even be more options to choose from later this year, with rumours pointing a three-pronged launch of the iPhone 7s, the 7s Plus and the 8, or whatever the tenth anniversary iPhone ends up being called. And that’s not even counting whenever the Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV get upgraded.

If Apple is getting ready to make a product announcement at the new Apple Park, it’s probably best that it keeps it focused. Tim Cook onstage with a new iPad Pro tells a concise story about Apple’s future.