Rumors of a 12.9-inch iPad from Apple refuse to die down, and a new report now claims the tablet will hit the market early next year.

Apple has been rumored to be working on a 12.9-inch iPad version for quite some time, but no substantial evidence supported the claim. Dubbed the "iPad Pro," this purported tablet first made the news in mid-2013, when it was rumored to launch this year. More recent rumors suggested that Apple had to put plans to launch this tablet on hold, leaving many to wonder whether it will ever see the light of day.

A new report from Bloomberg now claims that the 12.9-inch iPad is still in the cards, but it will make its debut in early 2015, not this year.

"The new iPad will have a screen measuring 12.9-inches diagonally, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the details aren't public," reveals Bloomberg. "Apple currently produces iPads with 9.7-inch and 7.9-inch displays. The Cupertino, California-based company has been working with suppliers for at least a year to develop a new range of larger touch-screen devices, said the people."

Bloomberg further speculates that Apple may be looking to launch this larger iPad in an effort to "shake up the iPad line," as the company saw its iPad sales decline over the past two quarters. Moreover, Samsung has already launched larger-screen tablets a good while ago, and Apple is expected to compete in the new segment. At the same time, Apple is also focusing more of its efforts on making its products more attractive to businesses, a booming market with lots of potential.

Based on leaks and rumors so far, the larger 12.9-inch iPad will come with a high-resolution display, as its pixel density will reportedly near ultra high-definition (UHD) quality. In terms of design, the upcoming iPad Pro, or whatever it may be called, is expected to borrow many cues from the current iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina display, including the narrow side bezels and the stylish aluminum chassis.

In addition to this purported iPad Pro, Apple is also expected to launch a new iPad Air and iPad Mini with Retina display, and the latter two may see the light of day this year. Both the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3 are expected to come with beefed-up processors, upgraded specs and the company's Touch ID fingerprint sensor, among other improvements.

With no official word from Apple, however, take all leaks, rumors, and reports with a grain of salt.