The new Apple iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2: rumour round-up

Apple is all set to reveal the next generation of its world-conquering tablets at an event tomorrow, but the rumours have been flying all year and thanks to a series of leaks we now have a fairly good idea of what to expect from the new models…

The iPad 5 has apparently been redesigned to match the styling of the iPad Mini. It’s claimed that the new iPad will retain its 9.7-inch Retina Display, yet has been trimmed around the middle so will be around the same thickness as its Mini brethren - an impressive feat if true.

It also seems that the iPad 5 will get a gold casing option just like the recent iPhone 5S, as shown in the below picture from CTechCN. Handy if you like colour-coordinated gadgets.

In terms of specifications we’re not expecting a huge boost in power for the iPad 5, the iPad 4 is already very fast so this is likely to be a small bump rather than a major leap ahead.

Most likely the iPad 5 will be using a variation of the A7 chip found in the iPhone 5S (dubbed the A7X, if previous naming conventions are anything to go by) and offer a slight improvement in graphics processing power to drive the higher resolution display.

There are also rumours of an improvement in the camera, probably along the lines of an upgraded lens and sensor like that found on the iPhone 5S, which helped with low-light photography.

One thing that’s not likely to change is the screen. Apple’s Retina Display already provides an immense 2048 x 1536 resolution and holds its own as one of the best tablet screens out there.

The iPad Mini has proven a tremendous success so there’s every reason to believe that Apple will be unveiling a sequel with improved specs to continue the momentum.

The headliner here is going to be the inclusion of a Retina Display. With 7-inch Android tablets like the new Google Nexus 7 boasting high resolutions screens Apple will have to upgrade to stay ahead of the game and equipping the Mini with the same resolution as its bigger brother gives it an instant advantage.

The Mini will almost certainly get a power boost to go along with this, though probably move to an A6 chipset (like the iPhone 5) rather than the 64-bit A7 of the iPhone 5S. It’s also rumoured that the iPad Mini 2 will receive an Apple Touch ID fingerprint sensor, as shown in this image from DoNews.

Externally, the iPad Mini 2 does not appear to be changing much. Leaked images show the design is all but identical, except it will come in a choice of colours including gold and silver.

If Apple does indeed unveil these devices tomorrow then they should go on sale very shortly afterwards, perhaps in as little as a week or two. The one hitch may be a supply of Retina Displays for the iPad Mini, which commentators have suggested could be in short supply until next year.

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