iPad Pro release date soon as photo of outer shell leaks online - specs rumors roundup

Apple iPad Air 2Apple

More evidence surfaced online hinting on the release of the iPad Pro. This time, an alleged photo of the outer shell of the device made its way to the Web. 

Apple-centric website MacRumors picked up the photo from a Weibo user in China. The photo shows the mold of the iPad Pro casing. It is definitely larger than the current iPad Air 2. The resolution of the photo is bad, but readers can still make out the Apple logo at the back. 

MacRumors also stated that the photo could be for the prototype of the device. Tech companies make prototypes of their devices meant for testing. Not all prototypes make it to the finish line though; some devices are abandoned or scrapped. 

Another purported photo of iPad Pro leaked online last week. The photo was published by French website Nowehereelse.fr, which claimed that the photo was taken from the supply chain, specifically from a Foxconn employee. 

The photo not only hints about the forthcoming release of the iPad Pro but also the manufacturer in-charge in the production of the device. It was previously reported that Quanta Computer will be responsible for production, but it seems that Apple will make use of its loyal supplier instead. 

It has been long rumored that the iPad Pro will sport the following specs and features: 12- to 13-inch screen display; A8X or A9 processor paired with 4 GB of RAM; iOS 8 or iOS 9 operating system; 16 GB/ 64 GB/ 128 GB internal storage variants; 8-megapixel rear camera and 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera; and Touch ID fingerprint sensor. 

The iPad Pro is predicted to be a tablet-laptop hybrid following the uprising trend of this type of device. Murmurs also claim that the iPad Pro will be launched and will hit the market in spring or in the second quarter of 2015. However, it is business as usual for Apple, which has so far offered no comment on the rumors.