Apple iPad Pro: iOS 9 Code Hints At 2732 x 2048 Display For 12.9-Inch iPad

Apple’s long-rumored “iPad Pro,” a bigger 12.9-inch version of the company’s flagship tablet, could feature a high-resolution 2732 x 2048 display, according to code buried inside the iOS 9 beta. The discovery supports previous reports, which suggested that the Cupertino-based tech giant was working on a bigger iPad with 265 pixels per inch (ppi).

Two iOS developers, Hiraku Wang and Steve Troughton-Smith, pointed to the code in the first beta version of the upcoming iOS 9. Although the code referred to a resolution of 1366 x 1024 pixels, Retina Display scaling suggests that the screen resolution in the bigger iPad could actually offer 2732 x 2048 pixels. With 263ppi, the pixel density is identical to that of the iPad Air 2, which comes with a display of 2048 x 1536 pixels, Apple Insider reported.

On Monday, Troughton-Smith took to Twitter to reveal that iOS 9 includes support for a larger on-screen keyboard for an unannounced device, believed to be the iPad Pro.

In January last year, NPD DisplaySearch reported that Apple had a tablet in development with a larger 12.9-inch display, with a resolution of 2732 × 2048 pixels and 265ppi.

According to recent rumors, the iPad Pro could feature near-field communication technology, a Bluetooth stylus and redesigned touch screen. The device was also rumored to feature the A8X, an upgraded version of the A8 processor found in the latest iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities said in January that Apple filed several stylus-related patents, and was expected to finally settle on one of them for the iPad Pro. However, Kuo said that the stylus may not initially be well-received by most users, which could prompt Apple to introduce it as an optional feature with the tablet.