12.9-inch ipad joins large display iPhone and iWatch in Apple’s pipeline
Just a couple months after Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) signed a deal with International Business Machines (NASDAQ: IBM), now Apple is set to produce a 12.9-inch iPad, its largest ever tablet. The move is part of the general plan to rescue the declining sales of Apple’s second revenue generator.
iPad sales have been declining for two straight quarters and the iPhone-maker, courtesy of the partnership with IBM, is now targeting enterprise customers. It appears that the larger tablet would be a perfect replacement for laptops that these enterprises have been using. The current iPad are sized 9.7″ and 7.9″.
As reported by Bloomberg, the production of the 12-inch iPad will begin early next year.
Apple’s product pipeline is already busy with the company expected to release iPhones with larger display at Sep. 9 iPhone event. Also there are unconfirmed reports that the company may also unveil its first wearable.
The Wearable device
Re/code’s John Paczkowski is reporting that on September 9, at the iPhone 6 unveiling event, Apple will also unveil its new wearable. However, he does not name the wearable.
Paczkowski is well known to be privy to Apple affairs. His track record speaks for itself and anything he says regarding the company’s pipeline is taken seriously. He is the one who hinted the Sep. 9 iPhone event date.
While he avoided using the term “iWatch”, all the hints points towards it. He says in the report that the wearable will “make good use” of HealthKit and HomeKit platforms. iWatch features have often been associated with these two platforms that have been recently launched. So it is pretty obvious that the wearable device is an iWatch.
The iWatch
Earlier reports indicated that 3-5 million units of iWatch will be produced per month at the onset. The device will be available in multiple models including one with sapphire cover glass and at least 10 sensors for monitoring health and fitness parameters. Nevertheless, all the models are expected to have a flexible OLED display.
The iPhone 6
iPhone 6 has been tipped to be the game changer for Apple. The tech giant is expected to reclaim part of its market share lost to Samsung when it launches this next generation of iPhones. It is expected that other than the larger display, iPhone 6 will have a powerful A8 processor.
In the previous quarter, Apple registered strong revenue growth in China, a country where a 5.5 inches iPhone model would definitely do well. Apple saw its revenue jump 28% year over year in this country, with iPad sales leading the growth with 51%. iPhone sales were 48% higher than the previous year, thanks to the tech giant’s partnership with China Mobile.
While China is key to Apple’s growth, I don’t know what the future might hold for this market after Beijing reprimanded its mobile carriers to stop subsidizing foreign brands. Nevertheless, iPhones with larger screens will attract huge demand and perhaps register a recording breaking sales growth.
The company has been reinventing itself to claim its market dominance in the smartphone market. While this is not easy given Google Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL) Android dominance, Apple can yet again distinguish itself as the number one brand for the affluent.
Conclusion
Apple’s pipeline is the major reason why the stock has rallied to trade over $100. After a successful quarter, Apple is not resting on its laurels. The company has studied the market and is working on product lines to continue driving this growth. The 12-inch iPad, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 and the iWatch might all be game changers in their respective markets.
