Apple’s March iPad Pro Event Will Also Reportedly Highlight Red iPhone 7 And 128GB iPhone SE
Apple is widely expected to announce new iPads at a keynote event next month, where the main topic of discussion will be the arrival of two new iPad Pro models. Apple will reportedly reveal a second generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro which will launch alongside a new iPad Pro with a 10.5-inch display.
Both new iPad Pros models are expected to incorporate an Apple A10X SoC, 12MP rear iSight cameras and True Tone display (which makes use of four-channel ambient light sensors). Apple will also reportedly release a new “budget” 9.7-inch iPad which will replace the iPad Air 2. This refreshed tablet will use an A9X SoC.
It remains to be seen if this lineup revamp will help revive the iPad segment, which has continued to shed sales volume over the past three years. In its most recently completed quarter (fiscal Q1 2017), Apple reported that iPad sales fell to 13.1 million units, which was down from 16.1 million during fiscal Q1 2016.
In other Apple news, the iPhone SE, which was first introduced in late March 2016, is expected to get bump in its maximum storage capacity. The iPhone SE is currently available in 16GB and 64GB capacities, but a refresh will see a new SKU bump storage to 128GB. All of the diminutive smartphone’s other components — like its 4-inch display and A9 SoC — are expected to stay the same.
Another piece of news coming out is that the current generation iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will gain a new red color option, likely under the (Product)Red designation. Red has been a rumored color option for the flagship iPhone family for years, but has not yet materialized. The red option would join the existing Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Black and Jet Black finishes.
There’s also the possibility that Apple will launch new Apple Watch bands at the same event, which explains why many styles have recently been marked as “sold out” ahead of the March event. If you recall, Apple last refreshed its Apple Watch band lineup in March 2016.
