Samsung Ativ Q

Gear up for a bigger iPad. Reports have emerged that Apple is testing a much bigger-sized 13-inch iPad, as it continues to fight off increasing competition from Samsung.

A report by the Wall Street Journal quoting supply chain sources say that the company has placed request for a higher screen-sized screen but was not sure if Apple could ever release the product in the market.

“In recent months, Apple has asked for prototype smartphone screens larger than 4 inches and has also asked for screen designs for a new tablet device measuring slightly less than 13 inches diagonally,” the report said

The iPad currently comes with a 9.7” screen and a bigger screen would match the new device to its MacBook Air.

Last month, Samsung announced its all-new 13.3 inch ATIV Q that could simultaneously run both Windows and Android operating systems.

Sony too launched its Vaio Duo a 13 inch tablet that also converts into a laptop.

The Samsung announcement at its London Premiere for sure raised several eyebrows as the new dual-OS tablet is the first to combine Google Play and Windows 8.

The devise will include a 13.3-inch QHD+ display at a massive 3200×1800 resolution, an Intel Core i5 processor, Intel HD Graphics 4400, 4GB RAM, 128GB sold state hard drive, and 9 hours of battery life.

The Vaio Duo on the other hand has a screen resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 screen and is powered by a fourth-generation Intel Core i5-4200u processor running at 1.6GHz, 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, and an integrated Intel HD Graphics 4400 GPU, 128GB solid-state drive (SSD) and 9 hours of battery life.

Meanwhile, Apple is actually working on a bigger screen for its next edition of iPhone. The current edition has a screen size of 4” and it is believe that the next iPhone 5S or 6 - whatever it is called - will could come with a 5.5 inch screen size.

Apple last year launched the iPad mini with a 7.9 inch screen with an intent to more aggressively take on Samsung Galaxy Tab.

IPad Mini, despite its lack of Retina Display, has been immensely popular among Apple fans and amounted to almost 60 per cent of all iPad sales during the first quarter of 2013.

Meanwhile, more rumours suggest that the second edition of the iPad Mini scheduled to release this year too may not come with Retina Display.

According to reports a severe shortage of Retina Display panels could mean that Apple either comes out with the second edition of iPad Mini without Retina Display or postpone the release to 2014.

The Taiwanese Economic Daily News in its report also said that the release dates could be postponed to the first quarter of 2014.