Apple could launch an iPad stylus at the same time as its 12-inch iPad Pro launch, according to a report by KGI Securities.
The same report said that the 12-inch iPad Pro is expected to be launched in the second quarter of 2015.
The iPad Pro is a large tablet. At 12-inches it is larger than any of its predecessors. In comparison the iPad Air’s screen is 9.7 inches.
The increased size of the tablet means that it will be great for use in business environments, and the stylus could prove to be very useful. It’s believed that the stylus won’t be bundled with the tablet, but sold separately as an optional accessory.
KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo published the report based on patent filings. In the past Apple has filed patents for a tablet stylus and it makes perfect sense, given the size of the upcoming device, that it is about time to release one.
“Given that it’s more precise than a person’s fingers, a stylus can be more convenient to use than the combination of keyboard and mouse in some cases,” Kuo wrote. “Therefore, we believe Apple’s stylus will improve the user experience of 12.9-inch iPad.”
“Coupled with its unfavorable cost structure, high selling prices may turn consumers off if the 12.9-inch iPad is always bundled with it. We therefore expect the stylus to be an optional accessory before sufficient user feedback is received.”
Adding:
“The addition of a gyroscope accelerometer to a stylus allows users to write not only on the display, but also on other hard surfaces and even in the air. While this is a fantastic application for a stylus, we think the required software and hardware is not fully developed yet. Hence, we don’t expect Apple’s stylus to support 3D handwriting in 2015.”
Kuo expects charging to be via a Lightning connector because of the difficult antenna design.
“We don’t foresee significant sales of an optional stylus in 2015 and forecast unit shipments of 2-2.5 million,” he wrote. “But we believe that the stylus could improve the experience of users, however, and will likely help Apple develop specific customer groups such as the corporate sector and educational institutions.”
