iPad Pro 2 release date, specs rumors: 10.5-inch model now in production?

A promotional image for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil and Smart KeyboardApple

Rumors are now ongoing that the 10.5-inch model of the iPad Pro 2 may currently be undergoing limited production, which can mean that the product is set to hit the market as early as this month.

This report was first broken by Forbes last month, quoting HIS Markit analyst Rhoda Alexander, who said that the production of the iPad Pro 2 began last March.

"Indications are...10.5-inch iPad production is commencing this month. An April launch still looks somewhat tentative but the necessary elements are starting to come together," she said in an e-mail to Forbes contributor Brooke Crothers.

Alexander also said in her e-mail, "The initial production is limited but Apple's been known to do fairly fast ramp ups in the past. It's also possible Apple could do a limited launch initially, adding countries as volume allows." Alexander also mentioned that it is still possible that a 9.7-inch model will be developed by the company.

Alexander also gave the possible specifications of the upcoming iPad Pro 2 in an earlier Forbes article. Despite its descriptor, it is possible that the 10.5-inch iPad Pro 2 may have the same size as the previous 9.7-inch model, with only different bezel sizes. The upcoming device is also rumored to have a higher display resolution at 2,224 x 1,668 pixels per inch (ppi), as opposed to the previous model, which had a resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 ppi.

The actual release date, as well as the price, of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro 2 has not been revealed yet. However, rumors are going around that it may cost a bit less compared to its predecessor, which was priced at $599.

Despite these revelations, Apple has yet to confirm or deny if these are true. As such, these should be taken with a grain of salt, especially given that a lot of the rumors revolving around Apple products have been proven to be unfounded.