iPad 5 Release Date Set for June 18 with Sale Date Nine Days Later [Rumor]

A launch event date has allegedly been set for the next generation 9.7-inch iPad tablet.

According to Tactus, Apple will have a media event on June 18 to debut the iPad 5, eight months after the Cupertino-based company launched the iPad 4 - or iPad with Retina Display and iPad mini.

In addition, the report noted the fifth generation tablet will go on sale nine days after the event, therefore June 27.

"As is Apple's way, the device will also be a whole lot thinner, which brings it in close to what the iPad Mini is in terms of depth. Good news to me, as it makes the devise so much more portable! I love the convenience of having my iPad with me at all times," reported Tactus.

The rumor does contradict a few reports such as one made by DigiTimes, who noted from sources from a Taiwan-based supply chain maker that the fifth generation tablet will start its production cycle during the July or August months this year.

NPD DisplaySearch has stated that Apple is revamping the LED backlight of the iPad 5 in order to shave precious millimeters off the tablet's thickness in order to make it more in line of 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.

NDP DisplaySearch is projecting Apple would ship 55 million iPad mini units during 2013. Initially, the regular-sized iPad was to sell 60 million units compared to the iPad mini's 40 million units. NDP DisplaySearch now believes the figures will reverse.

Related Articles:

- For the iPad 4 vs. the original iPad, click here.

- For the iPad 4 vs. iPad 3, click here.

- For the iPad 4 vs. Microsoft Surface with Windows RT, click here.