Rumored 10.5-inch iPad may align with dimensions of iPad mini, resolution of iPad Pro

Apple's rumored plans for a 10.5-inch iPad — not much larger than 9.7-inch models — may make more sense when considering the size of the iPad mini, and the resolution of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

When Apple revealed the 12.9-inch Pro in Sept. 2015, the company made a point of highlighting that the new tablet's width matched the Air 2's height, Studio Neat's Dan Provost commented on Wednesday in a blog post. This allowed two full-sized windows to be displayed side-by-side in iOS 9's iPad multitasking.

If the 10.5-inch iPad keeps the same resolution as the 12.9-inch model — 2,732 by 2,048 — but given the pixel density of the iPad mini at 326 pixels per inch, the width of a 10.5-inch iPad would be the same height as the Mini.

Apple is rumored to be launching three new iPads this quarter, the other two being updated 9.7- and 12.9-inch models. The 10.5- and 12.9-inch units may sport an A10X precessor, relegating the 9.7-inch size to budget status.

There have been no indications that Apple is planning to update the Mini, which could mean that the Mini 4 will remain the most recent "small" iPad or get cut completely.

24 Comments

rare comment 206 comments · 14 Years

About 7 years ago

This is hard to understand. Why would a new size be scaled to be twice the size of the mini if the mini is to be jettisoned?

And a 10.5" iPad would now be subject to the Office licensing standards (where Office must be paid for screen sizes greater than 10.1").

And, would Apple really make a family as densely packed as 9.7", 10.5", and 12.9"?

This all seems a bit hard to believe.

maciekskontakt 1168 comments · 15 Years

I do not care about resolution at this point as I am not going to use magnifier for display content. However I do care about size to fit my hand, bag and pocket for transport. It will never be in my habd most of the time - most of the time it will be away and carried. Do any user have the similar understanding? I see people on streets using iPad for reading. Mini size is enough. Resolution for books is suffiecient. Also it is sufficient for movies so what is the point of increasing resolution? Sounds like old misguided ideas of increasing number of colors while human perception is limited.

mike1 3432 comments · 10 Years

Pure speculation, but perhaps the 5.5" iPhones have lessened the demand for an iPad Mini. Personally, I love my 9.7" Pro. It is the perfect size for what I do with an iPad.

T.j.p. 25 comments · 9 Years

maciekskontakt said:

I do not care about resolution at this point as I am not going to use magnifier for display content.

The increase in pixel density doesn't affect feature size but sharpness of the features. A 10 point font at 72 pixels per inch is rendered the same size as a 10 point font at 300 pixels per inch. One is difficult to read for long periods of time, the other is just fine for an afternoons reading. Similarly, not everyone's rods and cones have the same density on the retina. Nor even the same color perception as they may have different variants of the rod shifting their color perception. Some women even see more shades by virtue of having multiple varieties of cones for the "same" color. So higher density is a good thing, better color pallet is a good thing. Not everyone sees the same things the same way.

theothergeoff 2081 comments · 14 Years

rare comment said:

This is hard to understand. Why would a new size be scaled to be twice the size of the mini if the mini is to be jettisoned?

And a 10.5" iPad would now be subject to the Office licensing standards (where Office must be paid for screen sizes greater than 10.1").

And, would Apple really make a family as densely packed as 9.7", 10.5", and 12.9"?

This all seems a bit hard to believe.

1) developer's can cannabilize existing code and use their mini layouts for the 2Up page set up.

2) That's the user and Microsoft's problem. Apple isn't bundling MSOffice.

3) 9.7 will be like the SE, 10.5 and 12.9 are the new form factor.

4) I don't see a reason why the Mini won't be retained at the same outward everything. I do think the 5.5" phone will soon become slightly larger with less bezel and be close enough to replace the Mini for 'hand size'
4.1) Apple makes ~2X the profit on a iPhone than an iPad Mini. I see writing on the wall.