What happened to Apple's larger iPad models?

Apple has been rumored to be developing an iPad with a larger display since mid-2021, but amid reports that the 14-inch model has been cancelled, what's going on with the company's plans for a larger tablet?

Rumors So Far

Apple designers and engineers are exploring a larger-screen iPad, which could further "blur" tablets and laptops boundaries between computers. In January 2022, multiple suppliers, including BOE and LG, are remodeling factories to be able to provide Apple with OLED displays of around 15 inches for future iPad models.

The leaker known as "Majin Bu" later claimed that Apple was developing an iPad with a 14.1-inch display and an M2 chip, a rumor that was confirmed by the often accurate display industry analyst Ross Young. It is added that the device will have a mini-LED display, but there will be no ProMotion for variable refresh rates up to 120Hz.

Apple is developing a 16-inch iPad, which it hopes to release in the fourth quarter of 2023. The expected device has a screen size roughly the same as the 16-inch MacBook Pro, giving users a larger canvas to work with.

Apple has shelved plans to launch a 14.1-inch iPad. Apple's latest device roadmap for this year also doesn't include any larger iPad models, saying there won't be any major iPad hardware updates in 2023.

What kind of larger iPad does Apple envision?

At least one rumor suggested that a larger iPad model that Apple was developing last year did not have ProMotion technology, suggesting that it was not an iPad Pro model. An LCD display without ProMotion would give the 14.1-inch iPad significantly lower specs than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, suggesting it's more similar to the iPad Air.

The device could be imagined as a larger ‌iPad Air‌ option, or even part of an entirely new ‌iPad‌ product line with priorities unlike anything we've seen before different. At the very least, it seems likely that such a device would be aimed at creative professionals, such as graphic artists and designers who can make the most of a large touchscreen surface.

While a larger ‌iPad‌ display size could bring the ‌iPad‌‌ closer to a Mac than ever before, further software improvements may be needed to properly take advantage of the larger display. Despite the launch of Stage Manager in iPadOS 16, some users continue to complain about the iPad's multitasking experience and inability to fully utilize its hardware, making replacing a traditional computer more challenging.

Can we also expect a larger iPad model?

Despite rumors swirling about a larger iPad model, Apple appears to be very interested in the prospect of a larger tablet in the future.

The largest iPads from 2018 are the 11-inch and 12.9-inch ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌. That means the largest iPads are still smaller than the smallest MacBooks, the M1 MacBook Air and M2 MacBook Pro with 13.3-inch displays. Since the 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌‌ is already in a similar range to the 13.3-inch MacBook and is rumored to be expanding to 13 inches next year, it seems like it's only a matter of time before Apple offers a larger ‌iPad‌ model.

2023 is expected to be a quiet year for new ‌iPad‌ hardware, with at most only very minor updates expected for the ‌iPad mini‌, ‌iPad Air‌, and the entry-level ‌iPad‌. Rumor has it that the 16-inch ‌iPad‌ could arrive by the end of the year, but it could also be delayed to 2024 — in which case the first larger ‌iPad‌ model could include a redesigned OLED display ‌iPad Pro‌ models.

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