Rumor has it Apple Inc. ( NASDAQ:AAPL) has even loftier ambitions than they've had in the past. A new report from The Korea Times detailed a purported a larger iPad tablet with a 12.9 inch Retina display which is set to debut next year. This mirrors another rumor from earlier this month which reported Foxconn was testing production of a larger tablet screen. The Wall Street Journal also did a similar report this past summer.
Most notebook makers saw a sales decline in 2013Apple Inc. ( NASDAQ:AAPL) already offers the iPad in two sizes; adding a third size would give the company a distinctive edge. A larger tablet would be another step to replace laptops and ultrabooks including the company's MacBook lineup. Louis Bedigian for Benzinga pointed out declining MacBook sales as a possible bellwether. Computer shipments declined five percent during June quarter and fell an additional six percent by September quarter. And it's not just Apple Inc. ( NASDAQ:AAPL); most notebook makers saw a sales decline in 2013.
The Cupertino-based tech giant is not the only company with big plans for tablets in 2014. Samsung hopes to sell more tablets next year as well as tap into the education market, a segment which Apple Inc. ( NASDAQ:AAPL) currently dominates. One security analyst explained, 'The tablet PC will greatly grow not only in the general consumer market, but also in the B2G market, e.g. electronic textbooks. In terms of market size, it seems that the touch screen panel industry will benefit the most from the expansion of the tablet PC market.'
Apple is ready to transform the market once again
The notion of tablets and mobile phones eventually replacing laptops is not a new idea. The current sale numbers give that notion even more weight. If the rumors are true that Apple will soon unveil a larger tablet, it could be a sign Apple Inc. ( NASDAQ:AAPL) is ready to transform the market once again. A larger tablet has the possibility of capturing the attention of tech consumers, and give Apple a much-needed leg up to continue its market lead.
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