The iPad 5 seems to be sitting in the shadow of its smaller sibling, the iPad Mini, with more reports on the iPad referencing the smaller version and more hype around the Retina Display coming to the Mini.
However, we may be in for a surprise, with the iPad 5 apparently getting a completely new design to match the iPad Mini and new internals. The iPad 5 will reportedly be 20-30% lighter than the previous version.
We doubt Apple will move the iPad to a new hybrid category, as they will want to continue the influx of sales from the tablet audience. However, we may see an optional keyboard and some new changes to the iPad internals.
The iPad 5 will reportedly be released sometime in Q3 this year, with all these significant upgrades. This will be after WWDC, so the iPad will come with the new iOS7 operating system.
Apple may postpone the iPad Mini revamp back from September to November, giving the iPad 5 some time to sell out in stores. We believe Apple’s problems with the cannibalisation the iPad Mini has on the larger and more expensive iPad could be stopped by making the iPad 5 a hybrid computer, not a tablet.
The iPad Mini 2 will have a new retina display, according to some reports. Others are vague on the topic, and one analyst believes the retina display will come on the next iPad Mini, after the one coming this year.