iPad Pro release date: Why it’s ‘weird’ for Apple to start shipping new tablets on May 21 and May 22

Apple promised that the new iPad Pro will be available for pre-orders later this month and will be shipped a few weeks later. A known leaker has now reported that both models would arrive in stores around the third week of May, but the specific dates provided are “weird” for one reason.

iPad Pro retail launch still set for the second half of May

The iPad Pro refresh was undeniably the main star of the recently concluded Apple Spring Loaded event last week. While many of the leaked specs came true for the premium tablets, its specific retail launch dates were left under wraps.

Well-known leaker Jon Prosser tweeted on Monday that he has been hearing from his sources that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro would arrive in stores on May 21, and the 11-inch model would follow on May 22. The tipster has had accurate reports before, especially with specific retail launch dates, but even he finds these dates to be “kinda weird.”

While Prosser did not elaborate on why this information is absurd, a quick look at what days those dates will fall in might explain it. May 22 happens to be Saturday, and Apple almost never had a release date for an iPad on a weekend. The first-ever iPad was the only Apple tablet that arrived in US stores on a weekend as its retail launch was set on Saturday, April 3, 2010. Since then, all iPad upgraded versions and refresh arrived in stores on weekdays.

On the other hand, the supposed iPad Pro release dates do fit with Apple’s promise that they would become available within the second half of May. Meanwhile, customers will be able to place pre-orders starting April 30.

iPad Pro 12.9 will require a new Magic Keyboard

Suffice to say, Apple met the expectations of most fans with the announcement of the upcoming iPad Pro refresh. The company even surprised its customers when it announced that the new tablets will be powered by the M1 chip instead of the anticipated A14X SoC. However, there might be one caveat.

Apple had also announced a new generation of Magic Keyboard, and reports now have it that the accessory is somewhat a required purchase, at least for the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro as it is 0.5mm thicker than its predecessor. The slight change in dimension, due to the mini-LED display adoption, explains why the older Magic Keyboard will no longer fit the new tablet. However, the new Magic Keyboard can be used for the 2020 version of the tablet.

Featured photo by Dennis Brendel on Unsplash