

Ever since last year, rumors have been making the rounds that Apple Inc. would launch its refreshed iPad Pro lineup in 2017.
The latest report from Japanese site Mac Otakara claims that Apple will hold an event next month where the company will unveil four iPad Pro models. In addition, the event is rumored to showcase small changes for the iPhone SE, a new color for the current iPhone 7 and possibly new Apple Watch bands.
According to the report from Mac Otakara, Apple will launch a new 7.9-inch, 9.7-inch, 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch models next month. All models will ship in March except for the 10.5-inch, which will be delayed until May.
The new 10.5-inch iPad Pro is rumored to feature an edge-to-edge display without a Home button and will have the same overall footprint as the current 9.7-inch iPad Pro, according to Mac Otakara. The 10.5-inch model is rumored to be slimmer, but will retain the top bezel for the front-facing FaceTime camera.
The 7.9-inch iPad Pro model is rumored to replace the current iPad mini 4, released in September 2015. Other rumored features for the 7.9-inch iPad Pro includes a Smart Connector, True Tone display, four speakers and a 12-megapixel rear-facing iSight camera with True Tone flash.
Mac Otakara previously reported that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will have a 12-megapixel rear camera and True Tone display. All iPad Pro models will reportedly get quad microphones as well.
Mac Otakara isn’t alone with its predictions of a refreshed iPad Pro lineup. Barclays PLC research analysts predicted in November the release of three new iPad Pro models, but noted Apple would continue to produce and sell the iPad mini 4.
Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities also claimed back in August that Apple would release a 9.7-inch, 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro lineup in 2017. He also stated that both the 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch models would receive a faster Apple A10X processor while the 9.7-inch model would retain the A9X chip used in the current iPad Pro models.
While the main focus for the March event is rumored to be an upgraded iPad Pro lineup, rumors also suggest we will see a slightly updated iPhone SE.
Apple launched the 4-inch iPhone SE in March last year with the same design features of the iPhone 5s. The iPhone SE did, however, launch with the same chip specifications as the iPhone 6s and included Touch ID.
The iPhone SE currently comes in 16GB and 64GB storage options. Apple has subsequently dropped the 16GB option for future iPhones with the iPhone 7, launched in September, starting at a base model of 32GB. The new iPhone SE, rumored to launch next month, will also have a storage option of 128GB, according to Mac Otakara.
In addition to a 128GB iPhone SE, next month’s rumored launch could also see the current iPhone 7 and 7 Plus come in a new color option of red, which could be Apple’s biggest (PRODUCT)RED push to date.
The spring refresh event next month could also see the appearance of new Apple Watch bands.
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