Apple 'to release biggest-ever iPad'

Apple is boosting the screen sizes on its most popular gadgets, with the largest-ever iPad going into production early next year, according to reports.

The tech giant will begin making a new iPad with a 12.9-inch screen in the first quarter of 2015, making it the biggest product in the range. Apple currently produces iPads with 7.9-inch and 9.7-inch displays.

New versions of the iPad mini and an updated version of the 9.7in iPad will be released in time for Christmas, Bloomberg reported.

The California-based firm is also planning to increase the screen size of its ubiquitous iPhone.

Apple increased the display on the iPhone 5 to 4in, up from 3.5in on the previous model. This is expected to increase to 5.5in on the iPhone 6, which the company is widely expected to unveil at a special event on September 9.

Apple is looking to revamp its product range after announcing mixed third-quarter results in July.

The company sold 13.3m iPads in the three months to June 28, down 9.2pc on the same period last year, and far short of the 14.4m analysts had expected.

Although iPhone sales rose 13pc to 35.2m in the period, this also missed market predictions of 36m.

Apple notched up total sales of $35.3bn (£23bn), up $300m, but profits fell 22pc to $6.9bn.

The shares recently crossed the $100 mark as investors pin their hopes on new products, after chief executive Tim Cook said the company was set to have a “busy” end to the year.

The stock closed down 0.6pc at $100.889 on Tuesday night.