Dwindling supply of 12.9-inch iPad Pros could hint at an impending upgrade

By Christian de Looper Published November 9, 2017

Apple is getting closer and closer to launching a new set of iPads, and one reliable indication that a new Apple product is on the way is that stock of the previous-generation device is drying up. Well folks, it looks like the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is slowly going out of stock around the world.

In fact, a quick check on Apple’s website shows that the 12.9-inch iPad is now estimated to have a 2 to 3 week delivery time in a number of countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, Japan, Germany, and the U.K., according to a report from MacRumors. Just last week, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro was expected to have a 1 to 2 week delivery time.

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The report also mentions that 12.9-inch iPad Pro stock has seriously diminished in brick-and-mortar stores like Best Buy, AT&T, and Verizon. That’s in contrast to the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which continues to be well stocked both online and in stores.

While stock issues often indicate an imminent new release, it’s also possible that the supply chain is to blame. In Apple’s latest earnings call, CEO Tim Cook admitted that the company had underestimated the demand for iPads this quarter, and that it was experiencing issues with one of its suppliers.

In any case, we’re expecting to see some new iPads pretty soon. Rumors suggest that we’ll see an all-new 10.5-inch iPad Pro launched anytime between March and the second half of this year. Apple will also most likely launch updates to the 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros, and while these updates aren’t expected to be major refreshes, they will bring some welcome new features — like the addition of Apple’s latest tablet processor, the A10X chip. The new iPads will also feature the same 12MP rear-facing camera and a True Tone flash. According to rumors, it will also keep the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Christian de Looper

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…

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