Back in late May, a crazy rumour by South Korea-based ETNews claimed Apple was working on a 12.9-inch iPad dubbed the ‘maxi’. This wasn’t taken seriously until the Wall Street Journal chimed in two months later to say Apple was indeed testing larger screens for its iPhone and iPad, with the latter up to 13-inches.
MacRumors commissioned Ciccarese Design to create a mockup comparing this rumoured 12.9-inch iPad to the 9.7-inch iPad, iPad mini and 13-inch MacBook Air. Eric Slivka explains how Apple could indeed make the 12.9-inch iPad an HD standard display if it were to main the same pixel density of the 9.7-inch iPad or iPad mini:
If Apple were, however, to maintain the same 132/264 ppi of the current 9.7-inch iPad, this 12.9-inch iPad could conveniently carry an increased resolution of approximately 1366 x 1024 (2712 x 2048 Retina), matching the “HD” display standard in width and exceeding it in height.
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Taking things even further, if Apple were to approach the pixel density of the iPad mini’s display on this larger iPad, it could offer an even higher resolution of 1600 x 1200 (3200 x 2400 Retina) or 1680 x 1260 (3360 x 2520 Retina) on a display offering twice the area of the iPad mini’s display.
Check out the mockups below and tell us what you think:
Do you see yourself ever purchasing a 13-inch iPad, if it were to ever make it to market?
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I can’t see the need. BUT…
What if it’s actually a portable iMac? Like a MacBook Air, but no connected keyboard – with the styling of an iMac/iPad… running Mavericks.
Ooooooooooooo….
The Maxi iPad… Someone should get fired for coming up with that name.
It’s a Korean journalist, or his supposed source, who fabricated that name. Most product names/brands are NOT international. So the name makes perfect sense to people who have no knowledge of any other potential meaning.
the display on that ipad maxi looks a lot bigger than the one on the 13″ macbook beside it..
I can think of one use: replacing A4 or 8.5×11 paper (not exactly the same dimensions, but close). I tend to use my 10″ tablet for reading sheet music, although I know it’s a bit too small for some people. Having a 13″ tablet could solve similar use cases.
Of course, may be impractical in terms of portability.
It seems I have been perpetually on the verge of buying a GigEasy and AirTurn, but never pulled the trigger because it seemed so klugey with never having more than a half page displayed (it’s limiting when trying to read ahead). I can see the 13″ being more desirable… maybe?? It would still be about an inch or so shy of full page L & W.