Oversized hooey: “delayed” 13 inch iPad Pro model never existed

By Phil Moore | October 10, 2014

The thirteen inch iPad Pro, which likely never existed except in the minds of tech rumor mongers, has now been declared “delayed” by those same outlets. With Apple’s press event to launch the new iPad Air now just days away, the proverbial backside-covering has begun among the gossip spreaders who apparently created a larger Apple tablet out of thin air. Perhaps the silliest idea for an Apple product in recent memory, the 12.9-ish inch iPad model would try to tap into a market where demand is literally zero and in which no competing tablet vendor has found any degree of success.

While the iPhone 6 Plus is a growing niche that was arguably a risk worth taking for Apple, a thirteen inch iPad wouldn’t even be niche product. Apple has taken steps over the past few years to expand its mobile products into more sizes, first with the smaller iPad mini and now more recently with larger iPhones. But each time Apple has taken such a step, it’s because its competitors were offering products at those alternate sizes and finding at least some degree of success there. Still, it’s made for a juicy rumor, and so the thirteen inch iPad Pro has continued to remain front page material for the tech industry throughout the year.

Except now, of course, the lack of a debut for the concocted iPad model at next week’s iPad event has to be explained away. Various headlines are now claiming that the iPad Pro has been delayed because the iPhone 6 is too popular. Of course that makes no sense, but it doesn’t have to. After all, we’re talking about an gargantuan hypothetical iPad model that makes no sense either. Meanwhile Apple will debut a new iPad Air and iPad mini at next week’s event. Other new products may be among them. Just don’t look for 13 inch iPad.