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11/02/2024 11:37:04 am

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Apple's 12.2-inch iPad Air Plus Blueprints Leaked

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(Photo : Reuters) Apple's annual iPad sales might be on the decline for the first time since the launch of the device.

It seems like every year Apple goes through the motions of a new product size release; this year, it worked out, with two new iPhone sizes replacing the old 4-inch model.

Next year, it could be the iPad that is getting a size increase - to 12.2-inches. It is not the first time the new size has been "leaked," with rumors ongoing throughout most of 2013.

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Japanese magazine Mac Fan managed to get its hands on blueprints of the new size. It looks legit and Mac Fan is not known for reporting false information, but the information should still be taken with a grain of salt.

Apart from the increase in screen size and potentially resolution, the iPad Air Plus will reportedly get some upgrades internally, starting with an A9 chipset. The A9 chipset will most likely run on the iPhone 6S or 7 in 2015. It seems obvious that the iPad Air Plus would use the processor as well, if it is released in 2015.

However, rumors say the iPad Air Plus will be unveiled in June 2015 at WWDC, almost half a year before the other iPad revamps. WWDC is normally a place for software and services only, but launching a new device would not be shocking.

Apple should be looking to increase the clock speed of the A9 chipset and work on graphical updates to make mobile games run smoother. It wouldn't be surprising to see Apple lower the overall size of the A9 chipset, from its predecessor.

The iPad Air Plus might also feature a revamped speaker setup, offering much better audio quality. It is about time for Apple to move away from speakers placed on the bottom of a device - where they can easily be muffled by hands.

Price wise the iPad Air Plus should act similar to the iPhone 6 Plus, most likely an extra $100 cost for the increase in performance and new speaker quality. No word on if Apple will kit the pro-tablet out with some accessories like a keyboard.

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