Apple's iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2 look set to launch in October.
Apple might only just have unveiled the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, but there are already more new devices on our radar. Namely , the new versions of the Apple iPad and the iPad Mini which are due to launch before the end of 2013.
Fresh rumours suggest that Apple could launch the iPad 5 and the iPad Mini 2 as early as October or November. At least according to KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo , who has a history of being accurate when it comes to new Apple devices.
He claims that Apple’s Chinese suppliers are gearing up to ship the parts needed to produce Apple’s new tablets. They are expected to ship at the end of the 3rd quarter of 2013 with full production due to begin shortly after.
A release date towards the end of October looks most likely because that’s the time when Apple launched the iPad 4 and iPad Mini last year. With new Apple models launching on a yearly cycle it seems almost certain we’ll see the new models launch before the end of the year.
Pictured Above: Leaked Apple iPad 5 Image
Well, the iPad 5 is expected to adopt a similar design to the iPad Mini – meaning a thinner bezel surrounding the display and a more curved design. We’d also expect it to get a power boost with rumours suggesting it’ll include a new A7X processor. Apple's new full-sized iPad is also expected to be thinner and lighter than the current model.
The question on every ones lips is whether the Apple iPad 5 will come with Apple’s iTouch fingerprint sensor. No-one knows for sure, but we’d be surprised if it wasn’t included because Apple will keen to provide maximum security on its next-gen devices - to avoid another embarrassing lock-screen hacking incident.
Pictured above: Leaked iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2 Cases
One of the major criticisms of the iPad Mini is that it doesn’t have a Retina display. That’s all expected to change with the iPad Mini 2 which will include a smaller version of the Retina display currently used in the iPad 4. A higher resolution display needs a more powerful processor, so Apple are likely to give the iPad Mini 2 a new , faster processor – possibly the same A7X processor expected to feature on the iPad 5.
Both will come pre-loaded with Apple iOS 7 and are likely to be priced identically to the current models. As soon as we get more information about either of Apple’s new iPads we’ll let you know !