12.9 inch-iPad coming next year

As Android and Windows tablets and smartphones grow in size slowly but surely, Apple must keep up with the trend. The bigger iPad that rumors have been mentioning for months now will feature a 12.9-inch display and could be called iPad Maxi or iPad Max. Obviously, it may just bear a completely different name and its screen size may not be exactly 12.9 inches but that remains to be seen.

According to South Korean IT news portal DigiTimes quoting sources from the upstream supply chain "Quanta Computer has reportedly landed orders for Apple's rumored large-size iPad for mass production in the second half of 2014". At the same time, Quanta also competes with Inventec and Foxconn for Apple's iWatch orders. All three ODMs mentioned here have declined to comment on these matters.

The same sources said that the upcoming large iPad will mainly focus on the enterprise and education markets and its only manufacturer will be Quanta. Right now pilot production of the upcoming iWatch smartwatch has already started, with mass production also expected to take off in the second half of 2014. 

At last it should be noted that Apple decided to award some iPad and iPhone orders to Compal Communications and Wistron. This could be done in preparation for a future significant increase of production numbers, especially since this year's Holiday Season has almost arrived.