Apple was reportedly close to releasing a new 14-inch iPad model this year, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In his recent “Power On” newsletter, Gurman revealed that Apple had been exploring the concept of a larger iPad since 2021 and had almost released a 14-inch model, which would have been the biggest iPad to date. However, it appears that this product is no longer in Apple’s immediate plans.
One of the challenges Apple faced in developing a larger iPad was the transition to OLED displays. OLED displays are known for their superior image quality but come with higher costs, particularly for larger tablet displays. Previous rumors suggested that the first iPad Pro models with OLED displays would be limited to 13 inches and launch in the first half of 2024.
The idea of iPads with bigger screens that blur the lines between tablets and laptops was first mentioned by Gurman in 2021. In January 2022, it was reported that suppliers, including BOE and LG, were converting factories to produce OLED displays suitable for future iPad models around 15 inches in size.
Rumors then emerged regarding an iPad with a 14.1-inch display and the M2 chip. Display industry analyst Ross Young corroborated this rumor, adding that the device would feature a mini-LED display but not ProMotion for variable refresh rates. However, Young later revised his forecast and stated that Apple had changed course, opting for an LCD display similar to those found on the iPad mini and iPad Air.
In October 2022, The Information’s Wayne Ma reported that Apple was working on a 16-inch iPad with a release planned for the fourth quarter of 2023. This device would offer users a significantly larger canvas to work with, similar to a 16-inch MacBook Pro. However, no recent information has surfaced about this potential product.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding larger iPad models, Apple remains interested in the possibility of launching such a device in the future. The current largest iPad models, the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, are still smaller than the smallest MacBooks available, such as the M1 MacBook Air and M2 MacBook Pro, which feature 13.3-inch displays. Given that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is already comparable in size to the 13.3-inch MacBooks and rumored to increase to 13 inches in the future, it seems inevitable that Apple will eventually offer a significantly larger iPad model.
Bloomberg has consistently discussed Apple’s interest in larger iPads, and while the 14.1-inch iPad model may have been canceled, the 16-inch version reported by The Information could still be in active development. Further details about this potential product are yet to be revealed.