Don’t expect iPad ‘Pro’ in 2014, just a newer Air with Touch ID

Last week, AppleInsider reported on the state of 2014’s iPads, namely that we aren’t going to see that many this year. The sites insider, Ming-Chi Kuo an analyst from KGI Securities (which has accurately predicted most of the Apple leaks over the years) says that the 2014 iPad Air will snag the Touch ID fingerprint sensor and the brand-new 8X CPU. Anything else? Chances of seeing the rumoured 12.9″ iPad “Pro” or a new Mini are “slim” says Kou.

According to the analyst, the work on the new Air and larger iPad are priority number one for 2014. More excitingly, Apple is seemingly working on the operating system for the iWatch, which the analyst firm says will be released this year. The question is, will there be a market in an already crowded tablet sector, and is Apple overestimating the needs of its consumers? Do we really need a large iPad, in essence? The answers are no, yes and maybe.

The KGI report highlights some key facts, namely that the iPad Mini with Retina Display (released in 2013) didn’t sell all to well. Sales reports for the newer iPad Mini were “weak” and the report notes that the second Mini didn’t perform as well as the first, commercially. Apple’s “Samsung” approach to tablets is starting to crumble.

Kou also says that “unless more aggressive promotions are launched,” Apple will see a loss of more than 4-million sales during the first six months of 2014.

An iPad Pro, perhaps the world does need a 12.9″ iPad. Hell, this concept video below makes it look like the best device to come out of Apple since the MacBook Pro with Retina Display debuted in 2011. It would certainly be an incredible productivity tool, as long as Apple gets the price right (below US$700) and makes it as light as the Air.