iPad Pro Release Date Pushed Back Until 2015

By Vincent Funaro, Christian Post Reporter Friday, March 14, 2014

The iPad Pro release date will have to wait until next year, according to a new report.

Digitimes stated that the 12.9-inch iPad now known to some as the Pro model will not hit the market until at least the beginning of next year. The publication claims that Apple is having issues with the larger tablets form factor since it is not compatible with existing ecosystems. This forced manufacturers to scale back on their plans.

KGI Securities Ming-Chi Kuo also confirmed a 2015 release in a research note that said Apple will hold off on releasing the 12.9-inch iPad until next year and will launch an iPad Air model with an A8 processor and Touch ID fingerprint sensor instead.

Kuo stated that the iPad Pro will debut in the beginning of next year with limited supply.

"We believe Apple plans to launch upgraded iPad Air early this year, and will accelerate development of 12.9" iPad," read the report. "As such, more resources will be allocated to these two products, which will affect the progress of the development of new iPad mini."

Apple will shift much of its resources to the larger models due to low sales of the iPad mini retina model.

Kuo also states that the iPad Pro will function as a driver in allowing developers to create more interactive apps for a bigger screen. Apple has been prioritizing developing the operating system for the iWatch this year, and plans to release that device in 2014.

Kuo believes Apple will restart mass production of the iPad in the first quarter of this year as the company is looking to decrease production of the iPad 2. iPad shipments are expected to fall from 34 million units in the 1st of 2013 to below 30 million units in the first half of 2014, according to Kuo.