A new report surfaced that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) may launch a larger iPad sometime next year. PadNews (a Chinese news site that specializes in tablet technology reports) claims Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd. (TPE:2354) (OTCMKTS:FXCOF) is testing either 11.4 inch or 12.9 inch diagonal displays. The report also claims Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is targeting a release date of March 2014.
Apple might release a larger tablet
For the past few months, there have been numerous predictions that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) would release a larger tablet computer in the near future. Earlier last summer, The Wall Street Journal even reported on a larger iPad, adding a sourced claim of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s prototype, a new tablet category featuring a display not much smaller than 14 inches diagonally. In September, a Chinese publication reported Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s collaboration with Quanta Computer for a 12-inch tablet.
Quanta previously worked with Apple for MacBook Air computers and iPods.
Some analysts also hope to see a fancier iPad device. Ben A. Reitzes (analyst for Barclays Capital) thinks a 13-inch tablet with a convertible clamshell is coming. He thinks the 67-bit A7 that was released with the iPhone 5s in hopes of starting the development of 64-bit optimized applications would eventually lead to technology beyond 4GB of RAM.
Apple’s large iPad could boost its revenues
Apple Insider’s Shane Cole elaborated, “A new 13-inch convertible iPad could mean significant revenue increases for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) as well, according to the analysis. Reitzes pegs the product’s average sale price at ‘about $650’ with 35 percent margins, calculating that every 10 million units sold would add approximately $2 to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s earnings per share. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) sold 14.6 million iPads and 3.8 million Macs during the third quarter of 2013.”
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is constantly making progress with their devices and technology. The iPhone 5s is an exciting device with fingerprint technology and sleek modern construction. The upcoming iPad Mini second generation features a Retina display. Given Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s history, it wouldn’t be surprising if a larger iPad tablet was in the works. Time will tell if this rumor turns out to be true.
