Apple's mid-range iPad Air originated as a 9.7-inch tablet, and a subsequent makeover brought it to 10.9 inches. However, Apple's screen inflation is unlikely to stop there, and the company may be planning a larger model when the iPad Air 6 arrives in a few months.

According to industry sources at DigiTimes, Apple is working on a 12.9-inch configuration for its next tablet; previous rumors by 9to5Mac suggested that there would be two versions of the next iPad Air, which would allow Apple to keep the current 10.9-inch design while adding a 12.9-inch model to match the iPad Pro for those who want more screen space at a lower price.

But to be clear, the iPad Pro is still the mainstream for those who want the best visual fidelity; DigiTimes reports that a 12.9-inch screen will be available in a mini LED like the Pro model (or OLED) that the 2024 iPad Pro is rumored to use, rather than the same LCD technology found in the current iPad Air.

On one level, this strategy makes sense and follows what Apple is doing with the iPhone: the iPhone 15 Plus is for those who want a larger screen without paying an extra $300 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Likewise, adding one more iPad variant to an already crowded lineup will certainly make life harder for consumers who are not familiar with Apple.

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPad in 2010, there was only one model: a 9.7-inch tablet powered by an Apple A4 processor, available in one of three capacities (16GB, 32GB, or 64GB) with or without 3G connectivity.

If the rumors are correct, by 2023 there will be six different sized iPads to choose from, with four different internal configurations: iPad, mini, Air, and Pro. That's before considering older models, different capacities, cellular support, and which of the three types of Apple Pencils will be available. If Apple launches the rumored foldable iPad next year, it will add to the confusion.

With tablet sales declining around the world, it is surprising that Apple is considering broadening rather than consolidating its offerings. We will have to wait and see if this new iPad Air size really exists when the lineup is revamped in the coming months.

While there was talk of a new model this week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman does not believe anything is imminent, and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes we are now looking at early next year.