Apple is preparing to roll out a larger, 12.9-inch version of its iPad for 2015, with production set to begin in the first quarter of next year, Bloomberg cited people with knowledge of the matter as saying on Tuesday.
The report comes as Apple struggles with declining sales of its 10-inch and 7.9-inch tablets, which are faltering as people replace iPads less frequently than expected and larger smartphones made by Samsung and other rivals encroach upon sales.
Apple has been working with its suppliers for over a year on larger touch-screen devices, Bloomberg cited the sources as saying. It is expected to introduce larger versions of its 4-inch iPhone next month, although the company has not publicized plans for its most important device.
Apple was not immediately available for comment.
Late last year, reports about Apple working on a 12.9-inch iPad with high-resolution display surface. The iteration is believed to be a blend of the Macbook Pro and Macbook Air, but without a keyboard. Previous reports also claimed that the device could be named iPad Pro. Very apt, we must say.
Recently, Apple also posted its quarterly revenue at $37.4 billion and a quarterly net profit of $7.7 billion. The overall revenue rose a meagre six percent. Moreover, the figures were driven by iPhone and Mac sales. While iPhone and Mac sales rose and new bigger screen devices are expected from Apple, the iPad hasn’t been doing so well. Sales of the iPad were down drastically for the company.
Apple sold close to 13.2 million iPads in the quarter, which is again less than the 16.3 million sold in Q2 of 2014, and less than the 14.6 million iPads sold in Q3 of 2013. With the new iPad, Apple certainly aims at increasing the iPad sales numbers.
