Asian sources say that Microsoft is developing a larger Surface tablet, with a diagonal of between 13″ and 14″. Reports claim that the decision was taken based on an improvement in sales of the Surface Pro 3, which at 12″ was larger than the 10.1″ of the preceding models. In its recent 345s (Display Monitor Vol 21 No 43), Microsoft stated that the tablet’s momentum ‘drove Surface revenue of $908 million’; almost a 130% YoY increase.
Plans for a larger Surface tablet are still in their early stages, and development may not continue, sources say.
In other large tablet ‘news’ is everyone’s favourite, and longest-running, product rumour: the iPad Pro (Display Monitor Vol 20 No 31). Earlier this year we heard that the tablet had been scrapped (Display Monitor Vol 21 No 12), then more recently that it was still under development, but had been pushed back to early 2015 (Display Monitor Vol 21 No 40).
Japanese website Macotakara now says that the iPad Pro’s production has been postponed, and the device will not be launched until Q3’15. The site also claims that the tablet’s screen will be 12.2″, not 12.9″ as previously rumoured. There will also be a Touch ID sensor, A8X chip and 7mm-thick chassis.
A separate source – Taiwan’s UDN – claims that Apple will kill off the iPad Mini to focus on the iPad Pro.
Finally, a rumour about a large tablet from Samsung has appeared. The company is said to be working on a 13″ model, speculated to use an LCD display. Sources expect the tablet to be aimed at business and education use.
Display Daily Comments
We consider UDN’s claim unlikely. Apple only recently scrapped the iPod Classic – despite multiple newer versions being available, and only because it was running into trouble sourcing components. (TA)
