Apple is reportedly working on three iPad models for this year, Digitimes reports, with the company expected to ship 80 million to 90 million iOS tablets in total in 2014. According to unnamed market sources, apple is “likely” to launch a bigger, 12.9-inch “iPad Pro” by the end of the third quarter “at the earliest.” Additionally, Apple is rumored to have already asked production partners and component suppliers “to develop new models of 7.9- and 9.7-inch tablets,” the publication writes. In addition to iPads, the report also mentions Samsung tablets, with the South Korean Android device maker expected to ship 60-70 million tablet units in 2014. Apple and Samsung are going to remain the top two players in the tablet business this year.
Many reports have suggested that Apple is working on a bigger iPad model, sometimes dubbed as the “iPad Pro,” in addition to bigger iPhone versions. However, some reports claimed the 12.9-inch tablet would be launched early this year, while others said it will hit stores in late 2014. Meanwhile, Samsung has already announced similarly sized tablets at CES 2014, including the 12.2-inch Galaxy NotePRO and the 12.2-inch Galaxy TabPRO, although the company is yet to start selling the new Android-based devices.
