iPad Pro Release Date, Specs & Update: Leak Shows iPhone 6 Design

The latest leaks have propelled back the Apple iPad Pro in the rumor mill. And if its leaked appearance is any indication, the tablet design seems to be patterned after the iPhone 6.

The iPad Pro is to be the sixth and latest version of the iPad thus also fuelling initial speculations that it could also be named iPad 6.

Trusted Reviews reported that the iPad Pro was also rumored for launching alongside the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 during Apple's iPad event on October 16 but it did not happen.

There were initial reports that the iPad Pro will be an oversized tablet with a 12.9-inch display but after the leaks, the device was confirmed to have only a 12.2-inch screen, reports MacOtakara of Japan.

The Japanese report added that the iPad Pro will be similar in size with Microsoft's Surface Pro 3, which it will be going up against, and that it would be thicker than the iPad Air 2.

However, what triggered the rumors that iPad Pro was inspired by the iPhone 6 design is its 7-mm thickness, which puts it in between the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, cites Slash Gear.

The iPhone 6 is 6.9 millimeters thick while the iPhone 6 Plus has a thickness of 7.1 millimeters, noted Slash Gear.

MacOtakara believes that part of the iPad Pro design is also taken from the iPad Air 2 and shall most likely include a pair of speakers and microphones on top and bottom.

The device is expected to be capable of supporting stereo audio too and it shall be powered by a battery that shall take up a good amount of space inside the casing, observes Slash Gear.

"There is currently no word on a planned iPad Pro release date. Given the recent iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 release however, we would be surprised to see new Apple devices announced and released before 2015," opines Trusted Reviews.

But the MacOtakara report said that it expects the iPad Pro to hit the market around the third quarter of 2015, or about one year after the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 launch.

Slash Gear however believes that the iPad Pro will be launch in early 2015 citing that Apple still wants to take time to meet the global demand for iPhone 6 Plus before launching a new device which has some resemblance to it.

MacOtakara also mentioned of possible additional features for the iPad Pro, including Macbook-inspired iSight camera, a relocated Touch ID sensor similar to a Macbook Air LCD panel, and a Lightning connector.