Apple preparing 12.9-inch iPad for early 2015

Report claims company is set to manufacture its biggest ever tablet after working with suppliers for at least a year

Apple is preparing to manufacture a 12.9-inch iPad, with production set to begin in Q1 2015. It would be the company’s biggest iPad to date.

This is according to a report from Bloomberg, which cites unidentified people with knowledge of the matter, who said the company has been working with suppliers for at least a year to develop a new range of larger touchscreen devices.

According to the report, Apple’s suppliers have recently started manufacturing an updated iPad with a 9.7-inch screen, and were also set to enter production of a new version of the iPad mini, with the devices to go on sale in time for Christmas.

Apple’s last tablet releases were the 9.7-inch iPad Air and 7.9-inch iPad mini (pictured) towards the end of last year.

However, reporting its Q2 financial results last month, Apple revealed iPad sales had fallen nine per cent year-on-year to 13.3 million units. It was the second quarter in a row that iPad sales have fallen.

Apple is also reportedly set to increase the size of the iPhone, people with knowledge of the plans told Bloomberg. There will be 5.5-inch and 4.7-inch screen variants of the new iPhone 6, which are set to be unveiled at an event taking place on September 9.