Quanta Computer will be Apple's partner in producing the purported 12.9-inch iPad, dubbed iPad Pro, come 2014. The said company is also competing with Foxconn Electronics and Inventec for the possible orders of the much anticipated Apple iWatch. That is, if rumors are to be believed.
DigiTimes reported about the possible production of the new Apple products, citing sources from the local supply chain that caters to the need of the iPad and iPhone manufacturer. The three companies did not comment on the rumors.
"Quanta is expected to encounter several challenges in terms of industrial design and assembly when making the large-size iPad. And since the size is not the mainstream specification, order volumes are expected to be limited...," Aaron Lee of DigiTimes wrote.
"As for the iWatch, component makers have already started the pilot production, but because of low yields, mass production is rumored to have been postponed from the first quarter of 2014 to the second. In addition to Inventec, Quanta and Foxconn have reportedly been invited by Apple to become manufacturing partners. However, their order proportions have not yet been decided," he added.
The rumors about the iPad Pro have been building up in recent weeks with earlier reports saying that it may come out as early as March 2014. The DigiTimes sources, however, claim that it will be for the second half of next year. Apple is mum about the said device so these rumors should be taken with a pinch of salt. It is also not clear whether the orders for the colossal tablet that might sport an ultra high-definition screen, will be a small volume production for testing purposes.
Meanwhile, the tech world has seen patents filed by Apple for a possible device in several countries. Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst who has been reliable in terms of predicting Apple releases, predicts a second half of next year rollout for the wearable technology, dubbed iWatch, that might be focused on health and fitness.
