Sony fans may be in for a big surprise next year, as the company is reportedly planning to launch a 12.9-inch tablet in the first quarter of 2015.

Large tablets could become the new trend in 2015 if recent rumors turn out to be accurate, and Apple and Samsung may not be the only companies to venture in this territory. Sony will reportedly release a new 12.9-inch slate in 2015, possibly under its famous Xperia brand.

The news comes from Digitimes, which cites sources from the company's supply chain. According to the publication, Sony's upcoming 12.9-inch tablet will boast a high resolution of 3840 x 2400 pixels and pack a Qualcomm processor under the hood, albeit it remains unclear at this point just what chipset it will use.

This massive tablet, however, will reportedly come with a price to match, as Digitimes suggests the slate will cost more than $1,000. This, in turn, indicates that Sony aims to compete in the high-end segment of the tablet market with this upcoming device, so the tablet should rock top-notch specs and features all around.

The slate will reportedly feature an 8-megapixel rear camera and a slim profile of just 8.6mm in thickness, the report further adds. Moreover, Digitimes notes that Pegatron Technology - which works with Apple and Microsoft - will handle the manufacturing of this 12.9-inch Sony tablet.

"Although Sony has withdrawn from the PC market, it remains aggressive about the tablet product line, the sources noted," further explains the report. "The sources believe the tablet is expected to be manufactured by Pegatron Technology, which is also the manufacturer of Apple's iPad and Microsoft's Surface tablets. Pegatron declined to comment about its orders or clients," Digitimes adds.

Keep in mind, however, that it's all in the rumor state at this point and the source of this new information is not the most trustworthy. Digitimes doesn't have the best track record when it comes to the accuracy of its leaks, albeit the publication has proved to be correct on some occasions. As always in such cases, a hefty grain of salt is recommended with this report.

If Sony does indeed plan to unleash a massive 12.9-inch tablet in the first quarter of 2015more information will likely become available at the CES or MWC 2015 trade shows, and we'll keep you up to date as soon as we learn more.