FollowMass production of Apple’s iPad 5 will get going in full swing in the next couple of months for the impending September release, according to tech blog DigiTimes. Citing insiders, the Taiwanese blog reports that the new iPad release will likely cause iPad shipments to reach eight million units in Q3 2013, increasing further in the subsequent quarter.
Drawing on some statistics, the report says that total iPad shipments for this year is likely to fall below estimates as iPad Mini production has been postponed to the last quarter. Initially, analysts expected the new iPad Mini and iPad to account for 35 percent and 65 percent, respectively, of Apple’s tablet shipments.
The next gen iPad is likely to offer several color options, including gold, grey and navy blue. It is supposed to be 33 percent thinner and lighter than its predecessor due to a “thin-film-type touch panel” feature. The bezel design will be minimized to provide a bigger display. The sleek form factor is attributed to Sharp’s IGZO screen technology. It will be augmented by a slimmer glass having a thickness of 0.2 mm.
The iPad 5 is expected to feature a microphone and cellular-compatible SIM port, so it can be used to make phone calls. It is likely to run on the iOS 7 platform and is possibly one of the major hardware launches that Apple has earmarked for this year.
Earlier reports pointed to a September release of both the iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2. However, with the latest report signalling a delay in the iPad Mini 2 release date, speculations are soaring again. Apple fans and analysts are expecting Apple to reveal more details about the iPad 5 and other upcoming devices – the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 – at its WWDC scheduled for June 10th in San Francisco.
