Is the iPad Air going to have a bigger screen?
Apple’s iPad range continues to grow. Literally in terms of screen size. And the latest rumor says that the trend is about to continue. Two new iPad models are predicted, boasting the largest screens ever seen on the Air and Mini versions of the tablet.
Last year, the entry-level iPad, which had a 9.7-inch screen since the launch of the first model in spring 2010, suddenly appeared with a 10.2-inch screen.
Now, according to trusted expert Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities, there is an iPad with a 10.8-inch screen. This is not the first time such a screen size has been predicted, as you can read here. Therefore, there is an increasingly widespread belief that we can expect this bigger screen.
Outside of the iPad Pro range, iPad displays have always been 9.7in until 10.2in appeared. That is apart from the current iPad Air which has a 10.5-inch screen.
Kuo, in his latest prediction that was picked up by Joe Rossignol on MacRumors, doesn’t say whether the 10.8-inch screen he’ll trust will be an entry-level iPad or a new iPad Air.
Let’s be clear: I’m sure it’s the air.
To increase the size of the entry-level model, as soon after its screen jump once in a decade to 10.2 in the past year I find it completely incredible. Also, that would mean that the more expensive Air would have a smaller screen than the entry-level model that is unthinkable.
So, for sure, the iPad to come will be an iPad Air. Kuo says he will be with us later this year.
My suspicion is that Apple will try to fit the larger screen on a chassis that roughly or exactly matches the current one. In other words, a larger screen is likely to be achieved with thinner bezels around the screen.
The upcoming iPad mini may also have a larger screen.
Kuo had another element to report: that an iPad mini with a larger screen is also expected. This correlates to previous rumors, with Kuo suggesting that it will have an 8.5-inch screen. This will be the first time that an iPad mini has more than just a 7.9-inch screen.
That sounds great, but dampen your enthusiasm, because it won’t come anytime soon: Kuo says we should expect this bigger small-screen iPad in the first half of 2021.
The last detail shared by the analyst is that both iPads will come with powerful 20W chargers.
With an iPad Pro rumored to be coming soon, perhaps this year, the next few months are proving important to the iPad family.
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