Upcoming iPad Pros to reportedly ditch headphone jack, have smaller overall dimensions

Just a few days ago, reports suggested that Apple's around-the-corner iPad Pro iterations will be significant upgrades over predecessing models, complete with new USB Type-C ports and minimal-bezel displays. Just three days later, a fresh batch of leaks - courtesy of analytics firm AppSee - now presents us with new information.

For starters, per AppSee's logs, what was previously the 10.5-inch iPad Pro will now come with an 11-inch screen, whereas the larger model will continue to sport a 12.9-inch screen. Both devices are to retain the same resolutions of 2,224 x 1,668 and 2,732 x 2,048, respectively. Consequently, both variants will also retain the 4:3 aspect ratio.

AppSee has noted that Apple has likely started internal testing of these devices, for one salient reason: the expected code-names for the WiFi-only models of the upcoming devices - iPad8,1, iPad8,2, iPad8,5 - and those belonging to the cellular variants - iPad8,3, iPad8,4 and iPad8,8 - have appeared on their metrics. Two other models leaked previously, iPad8,6 and iPad8,7, haven't shown up in AppSee's metrics, though that doesn't mean the existence of these devices ought to be written off.

For those that aren't willing to accept these numbers at face value, AppSee isknown to be a reliable source of such information: in August 2015, the firm accurately predicted the screen resolution of the then-unreleased 12.9-inch iPad Pro model.

Given these numbers are a bit of a jumble, here's a handy table that matches up thecode-names with more consumer-friendly terms:

A batch of CAD leaks from Slashleaks, along with a report from the Japanese blog Mac Otakara, corroborates some of this information in greater detail; the 11-inch iPad Pros will come in at 247.5 x 178.7 x 6mm (including the camera bump); the 12.9-inch iPad Pros will come in at 280 x 215 x 6.4mm.

Twitter leaker CoinCoin reaffirms that the smaller device will be approximately 5.9mm thick.

Of great importance to many, though, is that CoinCoin also reaffirms previous reports that suggest that the devices may ditch the headphone jack, in favor of a USB Type-C-only interface. The Slashleaks files also confirm the presence of a new smart connector at the back of the devices in order to easily pair with various accessories, such as keyboards.

At the end of the day, it appears that the upcoming iPad updates are similar in nature to what Apple did with the iPhone last year; getting rid of the home-button along with a sizable chunk of bezel is quite the departure from previous iterations of the devices. We'll most likely see exactly what Apple has to offer by the end of the month.

Source: CoinCoin (Twitter), Slashleaks| Images via Slashleaks