Latest tech forecasts predict that tablet sales will have minimal growth this year due to the advent of tablet hybrids, such as Microsoft's rumored Surface Pro 4 and the newly-announced Asus' Transformer Book T300 Chi. Also, it seems that consumer interest on tablets is waning as bigger phablets and thinner laptops are making their mark in the market.
Tablets were first popularized by Apple when it released its first iPad in 2010. The device has dominated the market since. However, it seems that Apple will release new devices that will compromise the position of its own tablets in the market. According to reports, Apple is set to announce the hybrid iPad Pro along with a thinner MacBook Air.
Still, reports say that the iPad Pro aims to ignite the iPad line, which is declining in sales. Apple's hybrid tablet is purported to sport a massive screen 12 to 13 inches in size. In addition, it will come with a detachable keyboard like the current Surface Pro 3 that enables it to transform into a laptop.
If rumors prove to be true, then the iPad Pro will have its own advantages as it will have the functions and capabilities of both tablet and laptop. Moreover, being a tablet, it will have a touchscreen display. Although the device will have lower computing capabilities than the MacBook Air, it will be able to complete minimal tasks. Furthermore, it will be thinner and lighter than Apple's laptop.
The iPad Pro, sometimes referred to as the iPad Air Plus, is rumored to be released this year. The speculations about its release are fueled by predictions made by reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities. He stated that the iPad Pro will be launched in the second quarter of 2015 or sometime from April to June this year.
