Report: Larger iPad Delayed Until 2015

Next week, Apple will hold its second media event in as many months. There, many expect the company to unveil its newest versions of the iPad product line, which may take the form of a slimmer, iPhone 6-like chassis that we saw in supposed leaks yesterday. But one version of the iPad that we’ve been hearing about – a larger, 12.9-inch iPad Pro – will reportedly be delayed until 2015 so suppliers can focus their attentions elsewhere.

The news comes from a new report out of the Wall Street Journal, which cites “people familiar with the matter” as saying that Apple wants its suppliers in China to focus on helping them meet the unexpectedly high demand for the iPhone 6 Plus. The larger version of the iPhone is 5.5-inches, and was made in shorter supply than the 5-inch iPhone. Said one source of the situation:

“The top priority for the supply chain is to meet the overwhelming demand for the larger screen iPhones. The output of the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus remains unsatisfactory. It would be challenging for display makers to split resources and spend a few months to ramp up production for a new larger screen iPad now.”

This isn’t too surprising considering that Apple’s iPad sales have lagged, while its iPhone 6 sales have been setting records since its launch last month. Why would Apple want to shift focus away from a hot seller to try and pump a product that isn’t performing as well? That’s not to say that a larger, 12.9-inch iPad (or iPad Pro) wouldn’t do well should it debut this year. But, as the old saying goes, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” People want the iPhone 6 Plus, so Apple wants to make sure it satisfies that demand before moving onto a new version of an older, lower selling product line.

Moreover, the iPhone 6 Plus in and of itself satisfies some of the needs that the iPad and iPad Mini are supposed to provide in the first place. The phablet-sized version of the iPhone has the larger screen that many would want out of a tablet in the first place.

However, it still seems likely that Apple will be going forward with the larger version of the iPad sometime in 2015. The real question, I think, is whether or not we’ll actually see the new, larger iPad at its event next week.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]