Apple is planning to launch a 12.9-inch version of the iPad.
This version of the iPad will be added to its current lineup of the 9.7-inch iPad Air and the 7.9-inch iPad mini.
The largest-ever iPad was revealed by Bloomberg, as suppliers of Apple are reportedly preparing to manufacture the device. Production is expected to begin by the first quarter of 2015.
Suppliers of Apple have just started producing an updated 9.7-inch iPad, and will soon begin manufacturing an updated iPad mini. These new iPad tablets are expected to be made available to the market by the holiday season of this year.
Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, is looking to rejuvenate the lagging iPad division of Apple. The iPad, which is the second-largest product of Apple in terms of revenue after the iPhone, has seen decreasing sales for the past two quarters as there have been no new models for the tablet, coupled with the preference of users to instead purchase smartphones with larger screens than acquiring a tablet.
There have been many theories on why iPad sales have been lagging behind. One theory is that users don't feel the need to upgrade their iPads as much as their iPhones. iPhones typically get upgraded every year, whereas users feel that it takes three to four years before an iPad needs an upgrade into a newer model.
Another theory is that users are realizing that there really is no need for an iPad, as a combination of the iPhone and a MacBook is already capable of doing practically anything that needs to be done. The MacBook can be used at home or in the office, while the iPhone is for use while on-the-go. Where does the iPad fit in this situation?
This theory is also the reason why there have been many companies that are trying to combine the form and functionalities of a tablet with a laptop. One example of this is Microsoft's Surface Pro 3, which is marketed as "the tablet that can replace your laptop." Users can attach the keyboard to use the device as a laptop, then detach it for use as a tablet.
While the Surface Pro 3 has not really lived up to its expectations, Apple may be looking at the larger, 12.9-inch iPad to fill in the same niche as its competitor.
One major problem that the Surface Pro 3 is experiencing is the clunkiness of shifting back and forth between two different interfaces for the laptop and tablet modes. Apple, with its iOS, may be capable of bringing a more cohesive hybrid experience to users.
We won't know until the 12.9-inch iPad launches, which is expected to be sometime early next year.
