Tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow for us, will be an exciting day. On top of announcements from Nokia, Apple will also be hosting an event in San Francisco, California (1am, 23 October 2013 for us) to introduce new products from the company. We’re all expecting the Cupertino company to announce its next generation iPads that have been making waves in the rumor mill for quite some time now but what changes will apple make in its upcoming iPads?
We gathered some of the rumors around the internet so hit the break to check them out.
(Source: 9to5Mac, Redmond Pie, CTechCN, Nowhereelse.fr, Gizmodo, Sonny Dickson)
5th generation iPad
Design
According to multiple leaks around the internet, the next generation iPad will come with an iPad mini-inspired design, with a slimmer and thinner overalls while still retaining the same 9.7” display. Multiple tech sites have already gotten their hands on what looks like the rear casing of the iPad 5 that has a much slimmer bezel and can even be held using one hand.
Processor
According to KGI’s Ming-chi Kuo, Apple will be using the new 64-bit A7X processor into the iPad 5 giving it a much better computing power.
Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor & New Color Options
According to high profile KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, he believe that the new iPads will not be equipped with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor and will not be available in champagne gold. He believes that Apple is still prioritizing its focus on the iPhone 5S thus not allowing new iPads steal the limelight with these new features.
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However that said, according to earlier leaks, the Touch ID home button fits perfectly into the shell of an iPad 5, which has a slightly smaller home button compared to previous generation iPads. But of course, Apple could be just sliming the entire device down, giving it a smaller design and not necessarily the fingerprint sensor home button.
iPad mini 2
Display
While everyone including myself are expecting for Apple to pack a Retina display into its next generation iPad mini, according to recent leaks, it looks like that isn’t going to happen. According to a Chinese website who got their hands on a space gray iPad mini 2 casing, they did some measurements and saw a slimmer profile measuring at only 6.81mm (the original iPad mini measures at 7.2mm thin) which negates all Retina display rumors because in order to have a Retina display, the iPad should be thicker. Apple has also been rumored to have some manufacturing issues with its Retina display for the next generation iPad mini.
New Color Options
Like the iPhone 5S, the next generation iPad mini is rumored to have a Champagne Gold option too and Nowhereelse.fr seems to have gotten pictures of one. There have already been rumors saying that this will not be happening because Apple plans to have that color option exclusive for the iPhone 5S, so do take this with a pinch of salt. Apple is also said to have production problems for the gold iPhone 5S so it is unlikely they will introduce this new color for the new iPads. The Space Gray option will likely be happening.
TouchID
Little have been said about Touch ID on the next generation iPad mini but KGI Securities believe that it will not be happening for both iPads. Like the iPad 5 though, it should have a smaller home button that is similar to the iPhone 5S.
Processor
The current iPad mini is powered by an A5 processor, the same one found on the iPad 2, and it looks like it will be given a major bump in the next version. The iPad mini 2 is rumored to run on same the 64-bit A7 processor found on the iPhone 5S. It is also believed that Apple will use the A6X processor instead but most of the rumors on the internet are leaning for the A7.
What do you think Apple will introduce to its next generation iPads, feel free to add to list.
