A new report bolsters claims that Apple has plans on introducing a larger iPad in 2014. It also suggests a larger iPhone will launch in May.
Ever since the release of the original iPad, there have been reports claiming that Apple was working on a smaller version of the 9.7-inch tablet, as well as a larger version. The company has already checked off one of those boxes with the release of the iPad mini. Apple has also been rumored to be developing a larger iPhone in order to address the growing phablet market that its rival Samsung is already three generations in.
We reported a few days ago that Apple was said to be working on a 12.9-inch iPad that will reportedly be called the iPad Pro when it's released. Now Digitimes is now reporting that Apple's large-size iPad will be manufactured by Quanta Computer. Its sources claim that Apple has been testing a 12.9-inch and 13.3-inch iPad and will likely choose to release the tablet with the 12.9-inch display. It will supposedly launch it in October 2014 and some believe it will be targeted at the education market.
The publication's source also claims that Apple plans on introducing a larger-size iPhone in May 2014. There have been numerous reports that Apple has been testing next-generation iPhones with displays of 4.7-inches and 5.5-inches. Apple has not followed its rivals in building smartphones with large displays so far. Steve Jobs famously said that the iPhone's 3.5-inch screen was the perfect size and upcoming 4-inch Android smartphones would be dead on arrival because he believed consumers would not want to carry such a large device.
Phablets have grown in popularity and the iPhone 5s' current 4-inch display looks mini-sized compared to Samsung, HTC, LG, and Nokia. Apple isn't likely going to let them have all the fun and will give consumers what they want in a larger iPhone. The publication claims the larger iPhone will use a more powerful processor and will be released in May 2014.
It would be very out of character for Apple to deviate from its current device release cycle. The larger iPhone's release would likely fall into a fall release, just as the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 5c have all arrived in the fall. It's always best to take such reports of unannounced Apple devices and launch dates with a big grain of salt.
