If we were to consider the original launch pattern of Apple, news regarding the upcoming release of the iPad 5 would be engulfing us right now. However, the company had its audience spellbound last year when it chose November, instead of March or April, as the month for announcing its fourth generation tablet.
Even with no official word from the Cupertino-based conglomerate, we have managed to get an inkling of what can be expected from the imminent slab, thanks to the insights of Ming-Chi Kuo. Known for delivering noteworthy Apple-related news, Kuo is a KGI Securities analyst.
From what he has told the folks over at MacRumors, it can be gathered that the iPad 5 has been engineered to stand relatively lighter and thinner than its predecessor. Statistically speaking, it may be 15% leaner with its frame running approximately 7.5mm to 8mm deep. And a weight of 500 grams should make it 25% lighter as compared to the current flagship tablet.
With a compact frame come smaller internal components. Kuo has remarked that not only will the iDevice house an 8,500mAh to 9,000mAh battery, the capacity of which is roughly 25% to 30% less as compared to the fourth generation gadget, but the power pack will also face 15% to 20% reduction in terms of thickness.
Continuing the tradition, the device will be embellished with an A7x chipset. So we’re guessing the manufacturer may be making the Samsung-to-TSMC switch only with respect to the cheap iPhone’s processor. But then again, the analyst has said that this development may not take place before the onset of 2014.
Moving on, the tablet is said to have adopted the GF2 touch technology for its screen from the mini model and even its cameras, 5MP rear and HD front, are rumored to coincide with the latter. The gadget may also reflect the narrow bezel design seen on the downsized slab. There are no surprises dealing with the presumably slated color schemes. There is quite the chance that the variants could be splashed with black and silver.
One of the significant pieces of information coming from Kuo is that the shipments of the iPad 5 are set to kick off sometime during August to September. He also rendered two launch timeframes apart from the stated period. The company will apparently unveil its next flagship tablet either between September and October or October and November.