See What's On The Slab: Apple Reportedly Mulls Stretching The IPad Pro To 14 And 16 Inches

Apple may be considering increasing the size of the iPad Pro’s display, with potential stretches including 14-inch and 16-inch versions, according to reports.

The rumblings have come from Bloomberg sources claiming to be privy to Apple’s engineering plans.

If Apple opts to bring the device beyond the proof-of-concept phase, the chatty people noted it would be several years before it hits shelves.

“I’m told that Apple has engineers and designers exploring larger iPads that could hit stores a couple of years down the road at the earliest. They’re unlikely for next year – with Apple’s attention on a redesigned iPad Pro in the current sizes for 2022 – and it’s possible they never come at all,” according to the newswire's noted Apple soothsayer, Mark Gurman.

The Cupertino-based firm is expected to introduce a version of the iPad Pro with wireless charging next year. The redesigned machine will also include a fully glass back, replacing the standard aluminium enclosure used in existing models.

Apple first introduced the iPad Pro in 2015. Unlike the iPad and iPad Mini, it was positioned as a legitimate computing device that could conceivably replace the Mac for some tasks.

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Over time, Apple has built upon this proposition, offering a tablet-specific version of iOS for the iPad (called, predictably, iPadOS) and peripherals like the Magic Keyboard Case. The latest iPad Pro even uses the same M1 processor found in the first-generation Apple Silicon Macs.

A 14-inch or even 16-inch iPad Pro could conceivably prove useful for those hoping to use their devices for creative work, even if its enlarged size may prove slightly cumbersome when used as a tablet.

Still, the locked-down nature of iPadOS is likely to be somewhat of a limiting factor. While many professionals in the Mac sphere might find the prospect of a large, highly-portable tablet appealing (a la Microsoft’s Surface), the limitations on app distribution on the iPad may prove to be a deterrent. ®