iPad Pro release date 2014 has been delayed due to a dearth in supply of sapphire from the newly established Apple Mesa, Arizona plant, where up to 19% of Apple's sapphire requirement are met.

This comes as no surprise as the big tech firm is running full steam ahead to launch its iconic iPhone 6, which takes precedence for a release in December or ahead of the holidays. This is when consumers are more likely to upgrade and Apple is making a bet that a large screen iPhone will get some folks from Android to migrate to iOS.

Speaking of the iPad Pro release date 2014, the tab is Apple's largest standing tall at 9.7". The iPad Pro was initially slated for release as a 12.9 inch tab and according to Digitimes, now there are rumors as to a timeline for release. The report cited "lack of support from related platform developers and ecosystems" as causes for delays that will hurt Apple since Sony, Samsung's new flagships is already shelved in stores.

Another hurdle on the way is iWatch, which needs to be ready for shipping at some point near the iPhone 6 release date, since the iWatch links to the iPhone 6 as a connecting device and as a fitness device. The iWatch will compete with the already outed fitness gear from Sony and Samsung.

Analysts say that large tablets are not very competitive on the market with less expensive notebooks and more dynamic enterprise apps from Google's Androids.

There is no formal word from Cupertino if the iPad Pro has been 'put out of its misery' or sidelined for a later release. Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, who is an inside analyst at Cupertino indicated wrote in a report in February that the iPad Pro is under construction. However, it will not meet the deadline for a 2014 release.

"Even if it (a larger iPad) does make an appearance this year, shipments will be low," said Kuo, reports AppleInsider.