This Week's Apple Rumors, Ranked From Dumbest to Most Plausible - Wired

The iPad mini (pictured) and iPad Air could be joined by an even larger 12.9-inch iPad in the future. Photo: Christina Bonnington/WIRED

Each week, there are dozens of Apple rumors, reports, and patent filings that hint at what’s coming out of Cupertino next. Some are legit, but most are totally bogus. As always, we’ve parsed the week’s rumors, ranking them in order from “utterly ridiculous” to “duh, of course.” First up…

ASK AGAIN LATER: Apple Toying With a 4.9-Inch Handset

We know Apple is exploring various sizes for its next iPhone, but the latest is that Apple’s experimenting with a super-sized 4.9-inch smartphone. Last week, the word was a 4.7- and 5.5-inch model, possibly with a curved glass display. It seems that Apple’s definitely exploring a larger iPhone for its next launch, following the general trend we’ve seen from Android and Windows Phone handsets. But the question is, how big will Apple actually go?

ASK AGAIN LATER: Apple Adjusts Supply Chain Model (And Makes More $$$)

The word from Digitimes is that Apple has made a pretty significant adjustment to its OEM supply chain model. OEMs used to be in charge of obtaining components and producing devices. Now, they’re just in charge of production — Apple will deal with the component procurement aspect. Apple’s made a deal with OEMs so they still make the same margins as before, but what this supply chain change means is that Apple can save even more on the cost of producing products, which means more money in its pockets. This report sounds totally likely, but is difficult to verify.

SIGNS POINT TO YES: 12.9-Inch iPad in the Works for Early 2014

As if the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini weren’t enough, Korea Times reports that 12.9-inch Retina displays are currently being manufactured, hinting that a larger iPad could be coming in the not-too-distant future. We’ve heard that Apple could be working on a 12- or 13-inch iPad in the past, so this rumor is starting to gain a bit more momentum.

SIGNS POINT TO YES: iPhone Launching on China Mobile December 18

China Mobile said that it “plans to introduce a new brand for mobile” on December 18, according to the Wall Street Journal , which looks like it could finally mean the iPhone is launching on the Chinese carrier. Apple and its CEO Tim Cook have indicated time and again that China is one of its most important markets, and having the iPhone on China Mobile would grant Apple access to a huge new audience. Apple held a special event in China (as well as Berlin and Tokyo) after its September 10 iPhone announcements earlier this year, which we thought could have been related to a China Mobile launch — but it wasn’t.

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