Apple to Launch 12.9-Inch iPad in Early 2015

Apple is planning to launch its much-rumored 12.9-inch iPad in early 2015, reports Bloomberg. Hints of the tablet, which has been dubbed the "iPad Pro" in rumors, first appeared in mid-2013, with a prospective 2014 launch date. Recent rumors, however, suggested plans for the tablet had been put on hold.

12_9_ipad_macbook_air

Mockup of a 12.9-inch iPad next to a 13-inch MacBook Air

The new iPad will have a screen measuring 12.9 inches diagonally, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the details aren't public. Apple currently produces iPads with 9.7-inch and 7.9-inch displays. The Cupertino, California-based company has been working with suppliers for at least a year to develop a new range of larger touch-screen devices, said the people.

According to rumors, the larger 12.9-inch iPad will include a high pixel density with a display that nears ultra high-definition quality. It will likely adopt many of the design elements offered in the current iPad Air and iPad mini, like an ultrathin chassis and narrow side bezels.

Bloomberg suggests that the larger tablet is an effort to "shake up the iPad line" as sales of the iPad have been on the decline for the past two quarters. The larger tablets may appeal heavily to businesses, a market that Apple is also aiming for with its recent IBM partnership.

Along with a larger "iPad Pro" Apple is also working on a second-generation iPad Air and Retina iPad mini, both of which are expected to include upgraded processors and support for the Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Related Forum: iPad

Top Rated Comments

saving107 Avatar
121 months ago
Future headlines:

"Battery production issues has delayed the 12.9inch iPad"

"Battery issue resolved, iPad Pro is back on schedule"

"Apple having issues with LCD production"

"iPad Pro may or may not be released this year"

"iPad Pro now slated for WWDC 2015"

"iPad Pro put on hold for some reason"

"iPad Pro back on schedule for early 2015 release"

"Initial production to be in slow supply"
Score: 53 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lewisd25 Avatar
121 months ago
I won't believe anything until Ming-Chi Kuo tells me its true.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nepalisherpa Avatar
121 months ago
Here we go again! I don't see anything new since the last rumor.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nagromme Avatar
121 months ago
Sounds awesome for artists/musicians/creatives. Or paired with an easily-removed Logitech-style keyboard cover (which, unlike Microsoft's Logitech imitations, have REAL keys that feel like a laptop).

A MacBook Air has certain big advantages over iOS. But iOS has its own advantages as well. I know people with iPads and keyboards that are much better served by that than by a Mac. (I'd call them "low end" users, except they're doing some really advanced creative stuff with that touchscreen!)

If this is real (in the market, not just the lab!) I don't see it being a top-selling blockbuster, and that's OK. The iPad Air size is the sweet spot for me and many, but I'm sure there's also a growing niche for bigger-screen touch computing to fill!

EDIT: And I do NOT think it would go for the same market the Surface aims for (albeit some overlap of course). That's a poor laptop coupled with a poor tablet, and doesn't know what it wants to be. It's for traditional desktop software--or why bother choosing one? Kind of neat in a way, but almost never the best choice. A true competitor to Surface would be a touch-based Mac (please no!) but I see little need for that in the near term. A larger iPad would be just that—with all the benefits of ease and app ecosystem that the iPad already has over Surface. What do people do with an iPad now? Do it bigger!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maflynn Avatar
121 months ago
Didn't Tim Cook promise us (and the investors) a lot of great innovative products in 2014? Seems that list is shrinking down :(
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmChimera Avatar
121 months ago
Retina Macbook Air. Calling it.



(Watch me be wrong)
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.1.2 With Security Fixes

Thursday November 30, 2023 10:12 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2, small updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating systems that Apple introduced in September. iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2 come a few weeks after the release of iOS 17.1.1, another bug fix update. iOS 17.1.2 and iPadOS 17.1.2 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update....
iOS 17

28 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in December's iOS 17.2 Update

Friday December 1, 2023 2:57 am PST by
Apple made the first beta of iOS 17.2 available to developers in October. Since then we've seen three more betas, and with each iteration Apple continues to add more new features and changes, many of which users have been anticipating for quite a while. Below, we've listed 28 new things that are coming to your iPhone when the finalized version is publicly released this December. 1. Help...
apple card 1

Apple Ending Apple Card Partnership With Goldman Sachs

Tuesday November 28, 2023 3:09 pm PST by
Apple is ending its credit card partnership with Goldman Sachs, according to The Wall Street Journal. Apple plans to stop working with Goldman Sachs in the next 12 to 15 months, and it is not yet clear if Apple has established a new partnership for the Apple Card. Apple and Goldman Sachs will dissolve their entire consumer partnership, including the Apple Card and the Apple Savings account....
iOS 17

Everything New in iOS 17.2 Beta 4

Tuesday November 28, 2023 12:18 pm PST by
Apple is wrapping up development on iOS 17.2, with the update expected to come out in December. While we're getting to the end of the beta testing period, Apple is still tweaking features and adding new functionality. We've rounded up everything new in the fourth beta of iOS 17.2. Default Notification Sound Under Sounds & Haptics, there's a new "Default Alerts" section that allows you to ...
iPhone 16 Mock Header Updated 1

iPhone 16 to Include Action Button Across Entire Lineup

Thursday November 30, 2023 4:08 pm PST by
The release of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max saw the introduction of an entirely new user-configurable button known as the Action button, and now, MacRumors has seen extensive evidence confirming Apple is planning to include the Action button on the entire iPhone 16 range. Designs and plans for the Action button date back to at least 2021, as the button was intended for release alongside hapt...
anker new xmas

Anker's Cyber Week Sale Enters Final Days With Up to 60% Off Sitewide

Friday December 1, 2023 12:05 pm PST by
Anker's Black Friday/Cyber Week event is entering its final days this weekend, and it's still offering up to 60 percent off sitewide. There are also a few "mystery boxes" that can include hundreds of dollars in savings, if you're willing to risk not knowing what you're buying ahead of time. All of these sales will end on December 3. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker. When you...
paramount plus logo

Apple and Paramount Considering Discounted TV+ Streaming Bundle

Friday December 1, 2023 4:40 am PST by
Apple and Paramount have discussed bundling their TV streaming services at a discount, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. The companies have talked about offering a combination of Paramount+ and Apple TV+ that would cost less than subscribing to both services separately, according to people familiar with the discussions. The discussions are in their early stages, and it is ...
General Apps Messages

Green Bubbles on iPhone to Gain These 7 New Features Next Year

Thursday November 30, 2023 9:00 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple announced that it will finally support RCS in the Messages app on the iPhone starting later next year. This change will result in several improvements to the messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices. RCS will become the new default standard for messaging between iPhones and Android devices, but these conversations will still have green bubbles like...