iOS 10.3.3’s Hidden Wallpapers Hint New iPads Are Coming Soon

iPad New Wallpapers iOS 10 3 3

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Apple has seeded the first public beta version of iOS 10.3.3 to registered beta participants, and one of its hidden additions may hint at a rapidly incoming iPad refresh.

The iOS 10.3.3 beta 1 was first released to developers on Tuesday, and to public beta testers today. On the surface, it seems to be another under-the-hood update with minor bug fixes and security improvements. Apple doesn’t typically publish detailed release notes for beta versions, and no major outward-facing additions have been discovered — with one exception.

Users who downloaded the iOS 10.3.3 public beta on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro were greeted with three new wallpaper images that seem to be optimized for that device’s display size and resolution.

Download the new wallpapers at the bottom of this page.Apple doesn’t usually release new wallpapers in incremental updates — instead waiting for major iOS versions, like the upcoming iOS 11. Many users and Apple-covering publications have taken this as yet another sign that Apple is gearing up to announce a 12.9-inch iPad Pro refresh, as well as a hotly anticipated new iPad Pro with a 10.5-inch display packed into a form factor similar to previous 9.7-inch models.

Indeed, many are predicting an unveiling of the new iPads at Apple’s WWDC in early June. Taken together, those reports and this new discovery could suggest that the wallpapers will be used in marketing material for the new iPad Pro models. The wallpapers are elegant, and all depict beach scenes seemingly from different parts of the world (pretty fitting for a summer device release). Also notable, as Redditor yexter points out, is that the resolution of the images is 3208×3208 — whereas previous iPad Pro wallpaper resolutions were 2732×2732.

Some have suggested that the wallpapers were meant to be included with iOS 11, and were accidentally leaked. Similarly, the larger resolutions could hint at bumped-up display sizes for both incoming models by way of smaller bezels — not just the 10.5-inch iPad Pro. But that’s just speculation, at least at this point.

iOS 10.3.3 is currently available as an update for public beta testers.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]

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