iPad 5 release date, specs and rumours
Apple has launched the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C but where are the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2? Here we've rounded up all the news and rumours for the iPad 5's release date, price and specs. Updated on 09/10/13. Take a look at our iPad 4 review.
See also iPhone 5S release date.
iPad 5: Release date
Following the announcement of iOS 7, it's fairly easy to come to the conclusion that Apple will launch the iPad 5 in autumn 2013. The company released the iPad 4 back in November 2012, having unveiled it in October. Given that the design was already two-generations old, we can't imagine Apple will wait any longer than a year to launch the next iPad.
Mutiple rumours around the web suggested that the iPad 5 will be revealed in October alongside the iPad mini 2 just weeks after the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C launch event.
Update: Multiple sources (Current Editorials and AllThingsD) have suggested that Apple will be holding an event to launch new iPads on the 22 October. We assume this event will be where Apple unveils the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2.
Visit iPad 3 vs iPad 4 comparison review.
iPad 5: Specs
Rumoured iPad 5 specs are pretty thin on the ground right now. The general consensus is that it will adopt a design similar to the iPad mini, and that it will be anything up to a third lighter and thinner than the iPad 4. That would make it around 500g and roughly 7mm thick (the same as the iPad mini's thickness). See also: iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 casing leaked online.
Leaked photos of the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 aluminium casing.
One way this could be achieved is by using thinner glass (some reports suggest 0.2mm) while others say Apple could use smaller or fewer LED backlights. This could also enable the use of a smaller, thinner battery without compromising on battery life. Another trick, as used in the iPad mini, is that the LCD screen is laminated to the glass reducing thickness and also reducing glare/reflections and improving quality.
Other reports and rumours say the iPad 5 will get new features which could include:
- Haptic feedback (something Android tablets have had for a long time)
- An upgraded rear camera (a move to the iPhone 5's 8-megapixel camera isn't too difficult to imagine)
- A faster processor (every iPad bar the mini has had a faster processor, which is usually claimed to be twice as quick)
- New colour options: slate (as currently offered on the iPad mini), gold and grey
iPad 5: Price
Going purely on Apple's past pricing stragegies, the iPad 5 is almost certainly going to start at £399 in the UK. Whether that's a 16GB or 32GB model is anyone's guess, but we'd hope that the minimum capacity increases as there's virtually no chance of a microSD slot.
As is currently the case, you'll probably pay £100 more for the equivalent 3G/4G version and we fully expect the Wi-Fi only versions to lack a GPS receiver (although it would be great if Apple includes one on all iPad 5s).
The top model is likely to be a 128GB Wi-Fi + 4G model, which would (by current pricing) work out at £739.
We'll bring you more rumours and news shortly...
