Apple could unveil three new iPad models come 2017 with potential for OLED by 2018

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities is predicting a few updated Apple iPad models to come next year. According to Kuo, the Cupertino company will introduce not just a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2 and a smaller 9.7-inch iPad, but also a third in-between model with a display size of 10.5-inches. This intermediate size should prove popular in both commercial and educational settings, though Kuo warns that the iPad series will bring in 10 to 20 percent less revenue YoY by 2017 due to current trends in the tablet market.

Both the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2 and 10.5-inch iPad are expected to ship with Apple A10X SoCs produced at TSMC in a 10 nm process. The smaller 9.7-inch iPad will likely rely on the A9X SoC while the existing 7.9-inch iPad Mini 4 may not even be refreshed at all next year.

By 2018, Kuo is predicting a complete redesign of the iPad series including the potential for flexible OLED or AMOLED displays. Such a feature would likely attract more users to upgrade and bring in higher revenues as a result. Nonetheless, analysts are pulling back from a forecast of about 40 to 50 million units sold by the end of 2016 to just 35 to 40 million units as Apple is not expected to refresh its iPad lineup this year.

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