We’ve heard plenty of rumblings regarding Apple’s fifth-generation iPad, which was expected to be unveiled in the coming months. Reports have varied, but now a source with a solid track record when it comes to unannounced Apple products has thrown his hat into the ring. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on Thursday told clients that the upcoming “iPad 5” will not launch until this coming fall, contradicting earlier reports that pointed to an announcement as soon as this month. Ming-Chi also wrote that the new iPad will be 25% lighter and 15% thinner than the current full-size iPad, again supporting an earlier leak that pictured a completely redesigned iPad shell that adopts the iPad mini’s design identity.
“We think the tablet will, at 7.5-8.0mm, be 15% thinner than iPad 4,” the analyst wrote in a research note picked up by MacRumors. “The new device will likely be about 500 grams, or some 25% lighter than iPad 4, run on an A7X processor, and sport cameras with similar specs to the iPad 4’s (front HD, rear 5MP). The casing shape and color (silver and black) and narrow bezel design will be similar to the iPad mini’s.”
Ming-Chi expects the fifth-generation iPad to begin shipping in either August or September this year.
