We’ve already heard from multiple sources that Apple is still‘adjusting’new iPad mini, with alleged panel shortagespushing a Retina iPad mini 2into 2014 and prompting Apple to ready aminor update this yearuntil the Retina version with a faster chip is ready next year. A new report out this morning from Taiwan adds more color to these rumors.
For starters, the Retina iPad mini is said to be“almost bezel-free,”which will allow for a bigger viewing area.
A slightly updated model should be expected in the fourth quarter of this year and is said to be“lighter, thinner and equipped with improved specifications,”which probably includes a faster chip than the A5 package found inside the current iPad mini model…
Quoting industry supply chain sources,DigiTimesreported:
Apple is reportedly aiming to use Retina panel technology equipped with 2,048 by 1,536 resolution in the next generation 7.9-inch iPad mini. Apple is also said to be revising the design of the chassis to give the next-generation iPad mini an almost bezel-free look.
The publication states a fifth-generation 9.7-inch iPad is stating production in small amounts this month, with volume shipments (2-3 million units) expected in August and September.
“As of October, shipments of the device are expected to increase another 25-30 percent,”sources told DigiTimes.
Like the iPad mini 2, the iPad 5 is said to also feature an almost bezel-free look, in addition to the thin-film touch screen technology“which will be able to reduce the weight of the device by 20-30 percent”.
DigiTimes is infamous for its mixed track report so apply some skepticism here. In a previous report, it claimed theiPad 5 will sport an optimized battery, potentially allowing for more than ten hours of runtime on a single charge.
