A new rumor regarding Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s purported 13-inch iPad recently surfaced. Chinese website Pad News reports the larger iPad will feature a 4k display (about 4,000 pixels) instead of a Retina display. A similar report from The News Tribe claims Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd. (TPE:2354) (OTCMKTS:FXCOF) has a 12.9 inch prototype for the iPad Pro with 4k and a potential resolution of 4096 by 3072.

Apple may unveil larger iPad with better resolution

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930)’s UHD TV features a resolution of 3840 x 2160 at 65 or 85 inches. An iPad with a 4K display would be a smart move for the Cupertino-based tech giant and it could elevate the company to new heights. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s current iPad with Retina display already has 2k resolution. Amazon’s Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 tablet features a resolution of 2560 x 1600 with 339 pixels per inch. That’s close to one million more pixels than the iPad.

The one problem that would come with designing a larger iPad would be keeping it on the thin side like the current iPad Air tablet. Thin design is one hallmark feature found on many of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s most popular devices. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s thin tablets make all other tablets seem chunky and awkward. What’s more is that a larger tablet would eventually phase out laptops such as MacBooks. With the demand for mobile internet on the rise, it’s not surprising forward-thinking companies such as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) are thinking about the future.

Apple could also unveil phablet next year

A larger iPad may not be the only exciting gadget Apple could release next year. There are rumors of a possible iPhone phablet, and a smartwatch that runs on iOS. There are a lot of expectations for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and quite a few possibilities to look forward to. It’s also possible Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) could surprise us all with an unforseen but revolutionary product.

There was initial speculation that the iPad Pro could arrive early next year. Supply chain sources predict the iPad 6 will debut during the latter part of 2014.