Sam Oliver
Apple's second-generation iPad mini will launch later this year with a thinner and lighter design, while a model toting a high-resolution Retina display may not debut until 2014, if a new rumor is to be believed.
The claims were published on Monday by DigiTimes, a tech industry publication notorious for being the source of numerous questionable Apple-related rumors. Its latest details, sourced as usual to unnamed people in Apple's supply chain, suggest a new iPad mini with a thinner and lighter design will launch in the second half of 2013.
That model, though, would be something of a minor refresh, the report said, while a major upgrade with a 2,048-by-1,536-pixel Retina display could come later. Supply chain sources allegedly indicated that the Retina iPad mini isn't likely to go into production until late this year, which would set it on track for a 2014 debut.
In addition, the report said that the Retina model would see yet another redesign, this time with "an almost bezel-free look."
The details come just a few days after a separate report from the Far East also claimed that Apple's iPad mini may not gain a high-resolution Retina display until early 2014. Various reports have indicated that Apple had hoped to launch a Retina display on its 7.9-inch iPad this fall, but that technical issues may prevent the company from doing so.
Monday's report also included allegedly details on a fifth-generation full-size iPad, suggesting the device will use "thin-film touch screen technology" to reduce its weight by up to 30 percent. The 9.7-inch iPad is also expected to have a thinner bezel design, and shipments are expected to reach between 2 million and 3 million units in August and September.
Well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities revealed back in April that Apple's fifth-generation iPad will be 25 percent lighter and 15 percent thinner than its predecessor. Subsequent parts and cases have supported expectations that the device will feature a design similar to the iPad mini.
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31 Comments
"Its latest details, sourced as usual to unnamed people in Apple's supply chain, suggest a new iPad mini with a thinner and lighter design will launch in the second half of 2013." Well it's hard to imagine anything thinner and lighter than iPad mini theese days. (maybe an iPod touch but that isn't a tablet anyway)
The rumor machine certainly isn't taking any chances - offering up just about every possible scenario about the next ipad and ipad mini. Who couldn't, at this point, point to a thinner and lighter (ipad) and higher res ipad mini? Going further and suggesting a thinner and lighter mini is filling in the blanks that I'm not sure even exist, because who out there really thinks the mini is too thick or too heavy? If Apple is working towards a hi-res ipad mini, which I'm sure they are, going thinner at this point would only make sense if the new hi-res screen allowed for a thinner profile and smaller battery. If not, it would be stupid to go thinner using the existing screen, only to have to go thicker with a hi-res screen version. I understand Apple did just that going from the ipad 2 to 3, but I doubt they'd do that again. My prediction is for a new full size ipad designed like the mini to arrive this fall as well as a refreshed mini with upgraded internals but no retina display. Next year a retina version mini and upgraded internals full sized ipad.
Fine by me. I've been fooled into paying for retina once already. It's a minor improvement at best.
I don't believe the "lighter & thinner" part, but if true it would be more welcome than retina.
I'm not sure about a 'bezel-free' iPad - the bezel is useful - stops one's thumbs from making accidental touch inputs...
[quote name="Gazoobee" url="/t/158488/rumor-apple-to-launch-redesigned-ipad-mini-this-year-retina-model-in-2014#post_2361864"]Fine by me. I've been fooled into paying for retina once already. It's a minor improvement at best. I don't believe the "lighter & thinner" part, but if true it would be more welcome than retina. [/quote] Again, you prove to be the worst poster on this entire site. Your contributions are atrocious and nothing but bait.