KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo says that the 12.9-inch tablet, which is rumored to launch this spring, has a decent chance of becoming a hit with enterprise and creative users, a factor he believes has led Apple to design an accompanying stylus.
Kuo said that given its accuracy compared to a person’s fingers, “a stylus can be more convenient to use than the combination of keyboard and mouse in some cases. Therefore, we believe Apple’s stylus will improve the user experience of a 12.9-inch iPad.”
However, Kuo adds that in his opinion the stylus – a device which has been the subject of several Apple patents – will not be bundled with the so-called iPad Pro but instead be offered as an optional accessory. He said that as not all buyers would find a use for the stylus, it made sense to offer it separately as it’d then allow Apple to sell the tablet with a more attractive price tag.
The analyst said he believes the device will charge via a Lightning connector, with future versions possibly incorporating 3D motion sensors and accelerometers allowing a user to write on a variety of surfaces or simply in the air.
Kuo explained that while he didn’t expect the tech giant to see “significant” sales of the stylus this year, he believes the device “could improve the experience of users….and will likely help Apple develop specific customer groups such as the corporate sector and educational institutions.” It’s not clear whether the stylus would work with Apple’s existing line of iPads.
‘If you see a stylus….’
Apple watchers with long memories may be surprised by the suggestion that the Cupertino company is planning to offer a stylus with its expected large iPad, as Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs once famously opined that “if you see a stylus, they blew it.”
Of course, the tablet market has moved on markedly in the four years since Jobs made that remark, with Apple apparently now believing that such an accessory would prove popular with users of a iPad.
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