Apple Inc. is expected to announce its fifth-generation 9.7-inch iPad no earlier than September while the next generation iPad Mini 2 might have to wait a while longer in order to receive further upgrades in specifications.
According to sources from "the upstream supply chain" DigiTimes reports that with the 9.7-inch iPad mostly finished preparing for the production of the device, it is unlikely that it will receive any more updates or changes in terms of specifications.
In addition to its new Retina Display, the new tablet will feature a slimmer bezel design to allow a bigger viewing area, while the number of LED tubes used for the device has been reduced from two to one the battery life has increased.
While no real mass production schedule laid out for suppliers, Apple is mainly shipping products for pilot production. DigitTimes' source explains that the pilot production is already going to be enough to satisfy demand for the initial launch of the new tablet. Therefore, Apple is expected to give its shipment estimates at the end of July or early August.
Meanwhile the new 7.9-inch iPad mini is still being finalized. The company is reportedly having trouble deciding if the new miniaturized version of the iPad should include the Retina Display or not. If the company does decide to include Retina display, the release date for the device will likely be pushed back to the end of the fourth quarter of 2013.
Apple has been asking its upstream supply partners to develop a next generation iPad mini with a smaller bezel. The hope is to push a bezel-less design similar to that of the Samsung and HTC large-sized smartphones. The iPad mini 2 will be a welcome addition for many tablet users who don't want to drop the extra money or have as bulky a tablet device as the full-sized iPad. The first generation iPad mini came onto the market earlier last year as a successful lower-cost version of an Apple tablet for fans of the device and brand.
