iPad Air Plus and the iPad mini 4 will launch between April and June 2015

Despite of a slowdown in tablet sales for 2014 and a negative growth forecast for the iPad by the International Data Corporation (IDC), Apple Inc. is hell-bent on releasing new models of the iPad at an ever-increasing pace. The latest model rumored to be in the pipeline is the Apple “iPad Air Plus”.

A leaked report, published on Friday in Japanese magazine Mac Fan, and picked up by Macotakara, shows what appears to be schematics and specs of Apple’s next iPad. The drawings show the tablet will sport a 12.2” LCD display and have dimensions of 305.31mm x 220.8mm x 7mm, or 12.2” x 8.7” x 0.28”. This is not far off from previous rumors of a 12.9” iPad from Apple.

Another consideration to take into account is the viability of tablets over 12” in size and their target audience. Tablets are designed to be portable and easy to use, so the idea of increasing their size seems a little contradictory. That said, there are some arguments to be made in favor of larger tablets, especially if they are to challenge laptops as people's main computing device.

If you’re still wondering just how large Apple’s rumored largest tablet yet is, wonder no more. In this video You can see how the size of the so-called “iPad Air Plus” aka “iPad Pro” compares with the sizes of several Apple devices currently available on the market.

There is speculation that the Apple iPad Air Plus tablet could well incorporate Apple's latest A9 processors. The Japanese publication adds that the device will feature four built-in speakers, placed at the corners of the short sides of the tablet, and it will be able to correctly orient stereo when it is rotated.
Along with the new iPad Air Plus, Apple is rumoured to be planning a launch of the iPad Mini 4 in 2015. In the same report, Mac Fan tells us that it will feature the same A8X processor as the iPad Air 2 and a slimmer design – again in line with the design of the latest iPad Air 2. The biggest bombshell in Mac Fan’s report is the news that Apple will discontinue both the iPad mini and the iPad mini 3 at the launch of the iPad mini 4.
According to the report, both the iPad Air Plus and the iPad mini 4 will launch between April and June 2015. The large iPad Air Plus may appeal to professionals as a replacement to laptops.
Technical specifications of the iPad Air 2
The iPad Air 2 has not been on the market for long, and so it will be interesting to see Apple launch another tablet device powered by a new iteration of its A-series of processors.
Apple's iPad Air 2 is 18% thinner than the original iPad Air, at only 6.1mm in depth. It runs Apple's latest generation processor, the A8X, a tablet version of the A8 chip that features in both the new models of the iPhone 6. Apple states the A8 has 40% more CPU performance and 2.5X more graphics performance over the previous A7 chip.
iPad Air 2 boasts an improved camera with an 8MP iSight camera and 1080p video capabilities. The iSight camera can take panoramic photos, as well as slow-motion and timelapse videos. The new FaceTime camera also features several upgrades, including burst selfies and HDR. These features will likely make their way into the rumoured Air Plus.
There is of course no pricing for the rumoured Air Plus, but it is interesting to note the Air 2 pricing as a starting point.
The iPad Air 2 16GB Wi-Fi model is priced at £399 ($625). While other models have been priced at £479, for the 64GB model and £559 for the 128GB model with Wi-Fi.
iPad Air 2 with Wi-Fi and cellular models will be available for a retail price of £499 for the 16GB model, £579 for the 64GB model and £659 for the 128GB model.