iPad 5 Release Date Rumors: Analyst Says Fall Launch More Likely

An analyst is offering his projection on Apple's next generation 9.7-inch tablet.

According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the fifth generation iPad will go into mass production during the August and September months. The analyst added the tablet will be 15 percent thinner and 25 percent lighter in comparison to the current iPad.

"We think the tablet will, at 7.5-8.0mm, be 15 [percent] thinner than iPad 4," wrote Kuo in a new research note. "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."

Furthermore, the analyst stated Apple will adopt the GF2 touch technology as seen with the iPad mini. The use of the GF2 would give Apple the ability to produce a thinner display for the full-sized iPad.

"We therefore think that iPad 5's battery capacity will be 25-30 [percent] smaller, at 8,500-9,000mAh, than iPad 4's, and the battery's thickness will be 15-20 [percent] smaller, at 7.5-8.0mm, and the number of cells will be reduced to two from three."

The new iPad is also expected to have a new AX chip - the A7X chip.  

Kuo's statement does contradict a couple reports such as one by Tactus stating the tablet would debut June 18 during a media event for a retail release date of June 27.

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.

In addition, in a similar statement to Kuo's, 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. 

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