iPad Pro fans hoping for new models before the end of 2019 are likely out of luck.
Today’s launch of the new 16-inch MacBook Pro (and slight delay of the Mac Pro launch) are likely to be the last major Apple hardware announcements this year, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The often-reliable Apple analyst told investors today that new iPad Pros won’t come out until the first half of 2020 — but new features might make the wait worth it.
In a research note obtained by MacRumors, Kuo says Apple plans to add 3D sensors to the back of the iPad Pro. The report echoes a similar story from Bloomberg earlier this week that claimed the advanced scanner also will appear on the 2020 iPhone.
New iPad Pro and ‘iPhone SE 2’
The new iPad Pros and the iPhone SE 2 likely will launch within the first half of 2020, Kuo says. Apple launched iPads in March before, so that could be a likely timeframe for the big announcement. Kuo already revealed most of the details in today’s report earlier this year. Today’s research note mostly just indicates that the big updates are still on track.
The iPad Pros will probably pack an A13X processor, more RAM, faster display, two cameras on the back, Wi-Fi 6 and other internal upgrades. Apple will reportedly base the iPhone SE 2 design on the iPhone 8. The entry-level smartphone is expected to feature a 4.7-inch display, Touch ID and an A13 processor.
With the new time-of-flight sensors, iPads and iPhones will be able to create 3D scans of real-world objects. This will help accelerate Apple’s augmented reality platform as the company gears up to launch its first AR glasses by 2023.
