Apple's much-rumored iPad Pro may not be as big as previously thought, but it will nonetheless have a display larger than 12 inches.

Rumors of a larger iPad have been making rounds for quite some time now, and the tablet has been unofficially dubbed the iPad Pro. While previous rumors suggested that this purported slate would boast a 12.9-inch display, new information now suggests that it may in fact be a bit smaller.

Japanese publication Macotakara, which has provided accurate information on unannounced Apple products on several occasions in the past, now claims that the larger iPad will feature a 12.2-inch display.

When it comes to thickness, the publication says that the upcoming iPad Pro will fit somewhere between the 6.9mm body of the iPhone 6 and the 7.1mm body of the iPhone 6 Plus. This means that the iPad Pro would be thicker than the 6.1mm-thin iPad Air 2, which is the thinnest Apple tablet to date.

The iPad Air Pro is expected to launch as a direct competitor to Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 tablet, by offering a larger option that is more focused on work, productivity, and education. The larger iPad is also expected to help Apple boost tablet sales, as the company has reported declining sales in this category for three consecutive quarters.

Macotakara further notes that the iPad Pro would borrow some design cues from the new iPad Air 2, including a couple of speakers and microphones on the top and bottom, potentially for stereo sound.

It's worth pointing out, however, that Apple has not confirmed plans to launch a larger iPad, and the rumored launch is still months away. At the same time, a larger Apple tablet would make sense. Apple has already teamed up with IBM to boost development of enterprise applications, and it also made significant efforts to get more iPads into schools and focus more on education. The iPad Mini could serve as a more affordable tablet offering, while the iPad Pro would target the top-end segment of the tablet market, launching as a high-end model.

Until official confirmation from Apple, however, it is highly recommended to take all iPad Pro-related rumors with a grain of salt.