Is iPad 2 Plus Coming?

Apple iPad 2 is an evolutionary upgrade over its predecessor. The fact that it comes with the very same display did turn a lot of Apple fans off. After all, many iPad 2 rumors had suggested the device would have a retina display. With new Android tablets starting to slowly catch up with iPad 2, there is a good chance we could see a new Apple tablet this year. FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger suggests this new device will be a premium model and will sit beside iPad 2. Its pixel density will be between 250 and 300 ppi.

Apple will be challenged by Amazon and many others in the tablet market for the rest of 2011. Samsung, Acer, and ASUS all have introduced respectable tablets to the market (though many of them are failing to reach glowing sales numbers). An iPad with 2048?x?1536-pixel display could shake things up even at a premium price-point. This latest rumor comes just a few days after Digitimes reported iPad 3 might make its debut later this year:

Taiwan-based companies included in the supply chain for iPhone 5 and iPad 3 have begun to prepare materials for the production of the two devices, which are likely to make their debuts in September and to hit the market in October, according to industry sources.

Could Apple introduce a new iPad in 2011? It is not as unlikely as some make it out to be. But the idea behind iPad Pro (similar to Macbook Pro in idea) does seem a bit strange. Most people are not looking to buy highly expensive tablets anyway. So the market for iPad 2 plus could be limited. Besides, it goes against Apple’s current strategy in the tablet business.

The better question is whether Apple actually needs to bring a new iPad to the market. Android tablets have generated a lot of buzz but have not sold as many analysts expected. With Amazon entering this market, things could get a lot more interesting. The iPad 2 Plus idea is interesting but remains just a rumor at this point.

Your take: how much would you be willing to pay for iPad 2 plus?