Apple Apparently 'Got Close' to Launching a 14-Inch iPad This Year

[Unregistered 4U]

Hardware is important, but I (and I guess a majority of the millions of people who buy it) like the iPad mainly because of iPadOS.

Every year, there are millions of children who are using an iPad as their first computing device. When they get to the point to where they can choose their own, it’s going to have an interface like they’re already familiar with.

By now, wow, it’s been so much time that there are folks that are on their second or third iPad. Some have stayed with the base systems, some have gotten larger more performant ones, some have gotten smaller ones. The majority of them would not even consider using anything that doesn’t run all of the iPadOS apps they have purchased over the years via that familiar touchscreen interface.

 

[Lakersfan74]

iPad is not a Mac so no MacOS. Get a laptop if you must have a real laptop and don't try to make something that isn't one become one.

 

[lovehateapple]

I have no need for a larger ipad.

 

[darngooddesign]

Oh yeah. I’ve used my mini as an additional monitor. Didn’t make the obvious leap to “the larger iPads do that too.” Ha. What can I say? Been a long three nights of Phish out at Dick’s. You’re closer this eve…

Phish out at dicks sounds painful...consult a physician.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

There are two kinds of people when it comes to the iPad. Those who want it to become a laptop, and will be always frustrated because a tablet-like device is worse than a laptop when following a PC workflow. Then, those of us who like the iPad as a completely different device and conceptual approach.

Or, put another way, “people familiar with macOS” and “people that aren’t”

 

[Bodhitree]

I wish I could get close to lifting one

This is the thing with those very large iPads, they just aren’t very ergonomically sound. When I first started using a 12.9” one it took me a while to build the muscle strength to use it comfortably, the way the leverage works on your hands and forearms requires quite a bit of power. With a 14” iPad I’d expect it to be even worse.

 

[frost_horizon]

For my job I draw. None of the other devices work with the pencil so it still has a critical role in my workflow.

That’s an absolutely valid workflow. An iPad is ultimate device for drawing. The problem is Apple advertises iPads not as drawing device, but fully featured computers/laptop replacements. They even have a slogan “Your new computer is iPad”. But that’s absolutely out of reality.

 

[bluespark]

I think a bigger iPad has a place, but 14" might have been not big enough to make a substantial difference relative to the current large iPad Pro. If I were Apple, I'd probably skip 14" and make a 16" iPad Pro. It would be great for artists, musicians, those looking for second display when traveling, etc.

 

[darngooddesign]

That’s an absolutely valid workflow. An iPad is ultimate device for drawing. The problem is Apple advertises iPads not as drawing device, but fully featured computers/laptop replacements. They even have a slogan “Your new computer is iPad”. But that’s absolutely out of reality.

The MacBook Air is bad at 3D rendering, but Apple advertises it as a fully-featured computer.

 

[frost_horizon]

The MacBook Air is bad at 3D rendering, but Apple advertises it as a fully-featured computer.

We are not talking about hardware now.

 

[darngooddesign]

We are not talking about hardware now.

Sorry, it's hard to remember what people are complaining about. With no vents and a giant, heat-generating screen on one surface I'm sure MacOS will run about as well for the power users who want it as it did on a fanless Intel MacBook Air. LOL

 

[AlexESP]

Or, put another way, “people familiar with macOS” and “people that aren’t”

Well, I’d say I’m familiar with macOS, I’ve been using it since for many years and I really like my MBP. I just use different devices for different purposes

 

[xantufrog]

Or, put another way, “people familiar with macOS” and “people that aren’t”

That’s disingenuous - I’m sure most iPad users are not only familiar with macOS but also have an iMac or MacBook. Some people just use the iPads differently than others

 

[frost_horizon]

Sorry, it's hard to remember what people are complaining about. With no vents and a giant, heat-generating screen on one surface I'm sure MacOS will run about as well for the power users who want it as it did on a fanless Intel MacBook Air. LOL

With hardware you have options to choose from. You have variety of different Macs with different specs.

With software it is not the case.

 

[ThomasJL]

What a mess! Steve Jobs complained about Apple having too many products in the 1990s as soon as he returned to the company. Tim Cook is truly a clueless CEO who is only good at making money. Sadly, many people on this forum think that is the most important thing for him to do. I'd prefer a Jobs-like smaller product line with the highest-quality products.

 

[darngooddesign]

With hardware you have options to choose from. You have variety of different Macs with different spec.

With software it is not the case.

Buy a Mac if you want Mac hardware/software.

Buy an iPad if you want iPad hardware/software.

They are all computers.

Neither is more objectively valid, they are only subjectively valid.

 

[AF_APPLETALK]

Some people don’t want larger phones, for a variety of reasons.



And yet Apple sells a lot to a wide range of users who do a lot of different things with them, including running businesses, teaching in the classroom, email and web surfing…



The Pro and Pro Max are far too small to be useful for a number of mobile use cases that the iPad does quite well. YEs, my MBP is more capable but it is heavier, can’t be used in portrait mode, and doesn’t fit well on an airplane seat.



For me, the Air and iPad serve two complementary purposes. While it won’t replace my MBP, it is quite usefule for when I don’t want or need the power of a MBP. Everyone has different needs and use cases.

You’re eventually going to have to accept that the iPad is in decline and will become an irrelevant. The paradigm is dead, and all the “what’s a computer” marketing in the world couldn’t manage to convince everyone of its usefulness.

People are buying bigger iPhones. MacOS is still superior. And with things like Vision Pro becoming available it’s only a matter of time before the iPad goes the way of the iPod touch. Which is funny because indeed, everyone was correct in 2010, the iPad has proven itself to be nothing more than an oversized iPod touch. People bought units anyway, but that doesn’t validate its existence.

It only get worse from here for iPad fans. It never fit. It never will fit. 🪦🪦🪦

 

[cicalinarrot]

Might as well just release a Mac with a touch screen like the MS Surface. 14 inches is a bit big for a tablet.

That's what they said about 4,7" displays on iPhones... if there's a someone to buy it, it'll survive but you can't know that until you try.
Ok, right now I can only think of people who want to play Twister on their tablet but still.

 

[schneeland]

I think a bigger iPad has a place, but 14" might have been not big enough to make a substantial difference relative to the current large iPad Pro. If I were Apple, I'd probably skip 14" and make a 16" iPad Pro. It would be great for artists, musicians, those looking for second display when traveling, etc.

The advantage of 14" would be that it is pretty close to A4 / letter size, so it would actually become a device that's more convenient for reading and annotating any sort of articles. In that regard, 14" makes more sense to me than the current 12.9"/13".
For sketching, I have to agree that more is better. But even there, using it on the go would impose upper limits for the size. But 16" would certainly be possible.
In both cases, it would probably not come cheap if they want to keep the pixel density of the current device. But I would personally strongly consider it.

 

[GeoStructural]

I want one!!

For real, Apple releases a 14.1" iPad and I am buying it right away.

(And yes, I am a MacBook Pro user too).

 

[Black Tiger]

These large iPads are great for musicians, especially piano players, to display their scores and advance pages with a Bluetooth pedal. The 12” is the current gold standard for this and 14” would take it to a whole new level.

 

[TheLunaPark]

I do think Apple will (finally!) solve the iPadOS-isn't-as-powerful-as-macOS in the next few years, as SwiftUI allows developers (including Apple with the built-in apps like Mail & Photos) to effortlessly make iOS (excuse me, iPadOS) apps every bit as powerful as macOS apps.

But that doesn't solve the problems I mentioned above, which are bigger.

Personally, I don't think it's the technical details that are the biggest barrier. I think it's Apple's conflict of interest. The more they add to iPadOS, the closer it gets to macOS. Very different interfaces of course in terms of touch/trackpad but still there's now a bigger and bigger crossover which surely leads to one cannibalising sales of the other. Does all this matter to consumers? Not so much. But I'm pretty sure Apple would rather you buy both an iPad and a Mac, not one or the other. I honestly don't think Apple wants to make iPadOS as productive and capable as macOS even with an optimised interface, hence the drip-fed features over multiple years rather than a proper effort.

 

[contacos]

I think if I ever get another Tablet, it would be something like the „Remarkable“. It feels like you are actually writing on a piece of paper, 2 weeks of battery life and no distractions. I still use my old Kindle for books because I can’t read on my iPad. Way too many distractions and makes my eyes tired

 

[Darren.h]

15 inch or NO DEAL. 15 is best screen size for laptop computers ask any YouTuber.

 

[macduke]

I hope if they do this, they change the other sizes accordingly:

10” iPad Pro
12” iPad Pro
14” iPad Pro

For me, the 12.9” that I have is a bit bigger than I prefer. If it was 12” with smaller bezels, it would be about perfect. The 11” feels a little cramped, but less so with display scaling. If I were forced to upgrade next cycle, I would do 11”, but I would prefer 12”.

The iPad Pro also needs to run a lite version of macOS when using a mouse, keyboard, and/or external display. That would justify the price more to me. They are getting pricey. For me, the iPad is foremost for content consumption, for some creative work, and a backup work computer in a pinch.