Next Apple iPad coming in September with new Apple iPad mini right behind?

A published report on Monday cites sources from the upstream supply chain for the latest on the next iteration of both the Apple iPad and the Apple iPad mini. The report states that the fifth-generation Apple iPad will be introduced in September, and with upstream suppliers all ready for the production of the 9.7 inch slate, no changes to the specs are expected. The next 7.9 inch Apple iPad mini is another story as a number of things about that tablet are still up in the air.

Suppliers are expected to receive a mass production schedule from Apple at the end of this month or in early August to cover the full-sized 9.7 inch slab. At this point, the suppliers have shipped out parts for pilot production, which is enough to cover early demand for the fifth-generation iPad.

The Apple iPad mini 2 will possibly make the huge jump in resolution from the current 162ppi to a Retina display of at least 264ppi. That would match the Retina display on the current fourth-genertion iPad. In addition, the next iPad mini is expected to offer a larger viewing area on the screen thanks to thinner bezels. The number of LED tubes in the tablet has been cut in half to one and battery life has been improved. The Cupertino based tech titan has been pushing its upstream channels to reduce the size of the bezel on the next iPad mini to make it as thin as the bezels seen on some of the latest phones offered by Samsung and HTC.

Apple has yet to decide upon using a Retina display for the sequel to the mini, but if it does go ahead with the new screen, the Apple iPad mini 2 might not see the light of day until the end of this year.

source: DigiTimes