Among the rumors and speculation of the second-generation iPad mini, the iPad 5 is also making the news, from potential release dates, features, components, and changes compared to its predecessors.
Release Date:
According to a source, iMore reported the next generation of the iPads could make their debut this month. While nothing has been written in stone in terms of specification, a "big redesign" is likely for the iPad 5 while the iPad mini 2 will feature Retina Display.
Back in February, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster also stated a potential release date will be in April. He further wrote about how the iPad 5 will be similar to the iPad Mini as well.
Tactus has stated the tablet would debut June 18 during a media event but will go for a retail release date of June 27.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote the iPad 5 will go into mass production in either August and September months.
DigiTimes, based on sources from a Taiwan-based supply chain maker, stated that the fifth generation tablet will start its production cycle during the July or August months this year.
Features:
Kuo noted the tablet will be 15 percent thinner and 25 percent lighter compared to the iPad with Retina Display, also known as the iPad 4.
"We think the tablet will, at 7.5-8.0mm, be 15 [percent] thinner than iPad 4," wrote Kuo. "The new device will likely be about 500 grams, or some 25 [percent] lighter than iPad 4, run on an A7X processor, and sport cameras with similar specs to the iPad 4's (front HD, rear 5MP). The casing shape and color (silver and black) and narrow bezel design will be similar to the iPad mini's."
While adding that the tablet will adopt GF2 touch technology, similar to the iPad mini, Kuo stated the battery capacity will be at 8,500mAh to 9,000mAh.
NPD DisplaySearch has stated that Apple is revamping the LED backlight of the next 9.7-inch iPad in order to shave millimeters off the tablet's thickness, once again to bare a likeness to the iPad mini.
"It's likely that part of the thinner/lighter design will be reducing the size of the LED backlight, partly by making the display more efficient and partly by using more efficient LEDs," said NPD DisplaySearch analyst Paul Semenza, via an e-mail to CNET.
An alleged leaked image, via Nowhereelse.fr, of the front plate shows the bezel to be narrower - right in line with the iPad mini's design.
As for the seventh-generation mobile operating system, the iPad 5 might debut with Apple's iOS 7, which is currently being developed to launch on upcoming devices like the iPhone 5S and iPad mini 2.
South Korea's ETNews noted that Apple has issued for the components needed for the fifth generation iPad, and the iPad mini 2, to a few manufacturers, however, Samsung was not on the list. Apple has utilized Samsung for constructing the device's display. LG Electronics is also a display manufacturer for Apple and is likely to continue the partnership with Cupertino.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published an application from Apple showcasing the next iPad's Smart Cover with a built-in inductive charging and design of the next tablet. As obtained by PatentlyApple, the next iPad design features a speaker on the back and side of the tablet as well as a new camera position. The camera of an iPad is normally on the top left corner, except this time it is likely seen in the middle of the device.
As usual, Apple is tight lipped with features and release date speculation.
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