The Korea Times reports that a local Apple display supplier has started production of 12.9-inch Retina displays used in the next-generation iPad, which is projected to arrive early next year. The report says the 12.9-inch iPad will have an improved display close to UHD (ultra high definition) quality. This means more pixels than the currently available iPad Air and the iPad mini 2.
“Apple’s local first-tier display supplier is now producing a 12.9-inch Retina Display to be used in the new iPad, which will be coming out sometime early next year,” an official at a local Apple supplier in Korea told The Korea Times by telephone Tuesday.
…“The 12.9-inch iPad will have improved picture quality. As the Apple partner intends to boost its lineup for displays that have almost ultra high-definition (UHD) quality, the upcoming iPad will provide very clear quality similar to that of UHD,” said the official.
This isn’t the first time rumours of a bigger-display iPad have surfaced. Even the Wall Street Journal has heard something about a 13-inch iPad, as its sources whispered that Apple is toying with such a touchscreen.
Not so long ago, Padnews heard that Apple isn’t just thinking big, it has already started testing a 12.9-inch iPad in Foxconn’s labs. More precisely, Apple’s assembly partner will do UI prototype debugging until the machine is completely finalized, the sources whispered.
According to the Korea Times‘ sources, Apple is moving toward a 12.9-inch iPad Pro (or whatever its name will be), because it has acknowledged that tablets will replace PCs.
It is worth noting here that John Gruber of Daring Fireball mentioned back in May that he expects Apple to release an iOS-based notebook, which could be in line with these rumours of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. But he doesn’t expect Apple to release a touchscreen portable Mac computer.
