New 9.7-inch iPad could be on sale in a few months

It’s been a year since the launch of the 9.7-inch iPad (2017) so a new model is due, and we might be about to get one, with the latest leaks talking about a launch in the third quarter of 2018, so sometime in July – September.

That’s according to a source speaking to MacOtakara, which added that it will have the same enclosure and screen size as the previous model, meaning it’s likely to have a 9.7-inch display and no real design changes.

The key selling points then will probably be that screen size, since Apple has moved to larger screens with the likes of the iPad Pro 10.5, and a likely relatively low price, as the current model sells for $329 / £339 / AU$469.

There’s no word on the specs, but we’d expect them to see just a minor upgrade, since this isn’t Apple’s flagship tablet range.

Coming soon with a new feature

It might get a new feature though in the form of support for the Apple Pencil, according to another recent rumor.

And we might not have to wait long for all the details on the new iPad 2018, as Apple is holding an event on March 27 (that’s tomorrow) where it’s rumored to be launching a new education-focused iPad.

Whether that and the device rumored by MacOtakara are one and the same is unclear, especially as we’d expect to see the new iPad in stores before the third quarter if it really is being announced tomorrow, but we should know one way or another very soon.