Apple Said to Be Targeting Fall 2014 Launch for 12-Inch iPad Focused on Enterprise

Amid rumors of a larger "iPad Pro" perhaps arriving in 2014 with a larger display in the range of 12-13 inches, Evercore analyst Patrick Wang yesterday released a research report indicating that supply chain sources are indeed supporting the circulating claims.

According to Wang's sources, Apple is looking to launch a 12-inch iPad in the fall of this year, targeting enterprise with a new "hybrid" device intended to bridge the gap between tablets and notebooks. Wang believes that the larger iPad will unsurprisingly also include a new A8 processor from Apple that may be a quad-core chip, as well as increased storage.

Arriving in fall ‘14, Apple goes Enterprise with an 12” iPad. Powered by the A8 chip (perhaps 4C), this expands ARM’s reach and, once again, transforms the traditional notebook market as we know it.

- Expect a 2-1 hybrid – think iPad + MBA – similar to how most iPads are used in the workplace and in the same spirit of MSFT’s Surface.

Wang points out that bill-of-materials estimates peg the cost of the Intel processors used in the MacBook Air in excess of 20% of the machine's cost, while the ARM processors used in Apple's iPad represent only about 5% of total cost for high storage capacity models. The much lower pricing for Apple's A-series chips could allow the company to pose a serious threat to the business notebook market for those applications where a new and larger iPad would be appropriate.

evercore_mba_ipad_bom
In his note, Wang points out that Apple faces two primary challenges in penetrating the enterprise notebook market with a larger iPad. The first is storage capacity, with the current iPad maxing out at 128 GB, while the second is support for the full Microsoft Office suite that is entrenched in the enterprise market. Microsoft has been reported for some time to be working on a version of Office for iPad, and the most recent reports have indicated that it could arrive in fall of 2014 following completion of the "Touch First" interface for Windows earlier in the year.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...

Top Rated Comments

JackieTreehorn Avatar
152 months ago
i can't take any source seriously whose name is wang.

I just start laughing.

Or this.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
152 months ago
What do Klingons and Apple have in common?

They're both targeting launches that focus on Enterprise.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
snowboarder Avatar
152 months ago
If this doesn't run full Mac OS, it's useless as every other iPad.
Try to copy an image from your Mac to your iPad (using the moronic iTunes)
and do something with your image on your iPad.

Hardware is amazing, but their iOS is just purely unbelievably bad.
How can you not include any file system? How am I supposed to deal with my
files? Save a copy under each student written application?

Apple, please stop thinking all the users are stupid and bring back
full functionality to your great devices! So sick of your limitations.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
abowlby Avatar
152 months ago
I thought that Tim Cook made it abundantly clear that Apple wouldn't be heading in the "Surface direction" with their product line, because it ends up compromising both tablets and laptops when you do so. I swear he said that during the Mavericks unveil back in June or July.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wiz329 Avatar
152 months ago
I can't take any source seriously whose name is Wang.

I just start laughing.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Swazaloo Avatar
152 months ago

Try to copy an image from your Mac to your iPad (using the moronic iTunes)
and do something with your image on your iPad.

This is very easy to do, just toss the image into your Photo Stream and it will appear on all of your devices.


Hardware is amazing, but their iOS is just purely unbelievably bad.
How can you not include any file system? How am I supposed to deal with my
files? Save a copy under each student written application?

I used to feel the same way you do. I have come to realized that it just requires a different way of thinking. Create a document in Pages and it is automatically saved in the cloud, easily accessible on all of your devices. A file system is no longer needed. I understand more advanced users may still require a file system for certain activities. (I am a web developer and couldn't dream of working in an environment without one.) But iPads are not meant to be used for those kinds of activities.


Apple, please stop thinking all the users are stupid and bring back
full functionality to your great devices! So sick of your limitations.

Again, if you asked me a few years ago I would be fighting the good fight with you. I am getting older now, and I want things to just work. My time is valuable and I don't want to waste it configuring options and setting things up. I have to applaud Apple, it is challenging to create programs that are easy to use yet very powerful.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)