Foxconn has built five prototypes of a 12.9-inch iPad for Apple as the company works towards two bigger iPad launches next year, according to new reports.
Chinese publication PadNews claims that Apple is currently testing the bigger iPad models, and is expected to launch two next year. The first, which will allegedly arrive in April of 2014, is believed to have a 2K resolution screen, while the second is a 4K model expected later in the year, possibly in October.
While the report doesn't mention specific resolutions of the bigger iPads, a 4K screen would mean there are around 4,000 pixels along the longest side of the display (4K Ultra HD TVs normally have 3840 x 2160 resolutions). The iPad Air, which has a resolution of 2,048-by-1,536 pixel resolution already has more than 2,000 pixels along its longest edge, so is technically 2K.
The rumoured bigger iPad has been hot topic in recent months. In November, reports claimed Foxconn had been testing 11.4-inch and 12.9-inch iPads. This report followed speculation from The Wall Street Journal, which suggested Apple had been working on "larger screens" for a new iPad.
Rumoured 12.9-inch Retina display destined for bigger iPad?
Barclays Capital analyst Ben A. Reitzes said in October that Apple's move to a 64-bit architecture with the iPhone 5s, iPad mini and iPad Air could hint that Apple is working to develop iOS for a bigger, more powerful iPad, which some have dubbed the iPad Pro or iPad Max.
Apple turns to Quanta to mass-produce bigger iPad, iWatch for 2014
We're still not completely convinced that a bigger iPad is on its way, though, especially as we've seen no leaked parts yet. However, with speculation hotting up, it's certainly a possibility.
