Final Expectations For Wednesday's Apple Event
iPad Pro, iPad Air 3, iPad mini 4 mockups via iMore

With Apple's event looming and rumors and speculation only growing, we've gathered our final thoughts and expectations as to what we'll be seeing from the Cupertino giant on Wednesday.

iPad Pro

We'll likely see the iPad Pro make its long-awaited debut this week.

Apple fans have been on the lookout for this mega-tablet since the reveal of the iPad Air in November 2013, and it appears they may finally get what they've been so patiently waiting for.

The Pro is rumored to feature a 12.9-inch screen, the first Apple Stylus, and 4G LTE connectivity.

The Stylus is rumored to come separately, as is the keyboard. Apple has reportedly developed their own Bluetooth keyboard case similar to the ones currently available for the iPad and iPad mini.

The iPad Air 2 currently condenses apps to make them both fit on the screen in a split-screen view. However, the Pro will allow two full-sized portrait apps to run side-by-side in landscape mode.

The Pro will also likely feature an A9X chip and four stereo speakers.

Sources also claim color options will include Silver, Gold, and Slate Grey. They expect that it will not come in the Rose Gold color option that the new iPhone is rumored to be coming in.

As for availability, 9to5Mac reports that production is behind and while it will be announced on Wednesday, pre-ordering will not be available until October, and the devices will ship in November.

Pricing will likely be over $1000.

iPad Air update

The next-gen iPad Air 3 is expected to be unveiled on Wednesday as well. 

While it would usually be announced at a separate "iPad Event" in October, rumor has it there will be no iPad Event this year and instead, all devices will be announced this week and released at different times.

Last year, we saw the iPad Air slim down, going from 7.5mm to 6.1mm thin. This year, we expect all dimensions to stay the same as the iPad Air 2. There's really no need to go thinner, as the tablet is still the thinnest on the market and Apple making their current flagship tablet thinner would result in the sacrificing of battery size.

Sources claim the tablet will come in Silver, Gold, and Slate Grey. Unfortunately, this device also likely won't come in Rose Gold.

The iPad will likely feature the new A9X chip, just like the iPad Pro.

Pricing is expected to remain the same, with the 16GB model costing $499, the 64GB model coming in at $599, and the 128GB coming in at $699.

A new iPad mini

The last update to the 'mini' was a very minor, rather disappointing update, and we expect this year to have a much larger update. Sources claim that the interior components of the iPad mini 4 will be the same as the iPad Air 2, with an A8X chip.

Pricing will likely remain the same, with the 16GB model costing $399, the 64GB model costing $499, and the 128GB model costing $599.

iPhone 6S and 6S Plus

Last but most definitely not least: new iPhones.

Apple is on an 'S' year, which means that they focus more on features than design; we won't see any huge differences in physical appearance on the iPhones that will be unveiled on Wednesday, as most changes will be seen in speed and battery life.

Both new iPhones are said to come in Slate Grey, Silver, Gold, and the new Rose Gold color options. They're also rumored to feature the new 3D Force Touch haptic feedback technology and A9X chip.

As for other features, it's expected to have a physically larger battery and a slightly thicker case.


Follow @VAVEL_Tech on Twitter for coverage of Apple's event on Wednesday.


Jack Griffin is an editor for the Technology and Music sections of VAVEL USA. Follow him on Twitter at @jacksonlgriffin.

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