There have been lots of iPhone 6 rumors, which Apple is expected to announce during a press event next month, but not much speculation about the next iPad. Until now, that is. Word from people who supposedly have knowledge on the matter say that Apple's suppliers are preparing to build the biggest size iPad ever.

Beginning in the first quarter of next year, Bloomberg's sources say Apple's suppliers will start producing a version of the iPad with a 12.9-inch display. That's several inches larger than the 9.7-inch iPad, and almost twice as big as the iPad mini, which has a screen that measures 7.9 inches.


Does the world want a bigger iPad? That's the question Apple aims to find out. With tablet growth on the decline, along with Apple's share of the market, the Cupertino outfit has to do something to shake things up and reinvigorate interest in the iPad. One way to do that is by lowering the price, though Apple has been loathe to consider such a strategy on any of its product lines, instead choosing to separate its products from the competition by billing them as premium devices.

If sticking with that pricing strategy, an argument could be made in favor of a bigger size iPad, with the hope (on Apple's part) that it will pick up some of the sagging sales as of late. According to market research firm Gartner, the iPad's share of the tablet market fell to 36 percent at the end of 2013, compared to 53 percent a year prior. If Apple refuses to lower the price, the alternatives are to add features and go bigger.