The iPad 5 is coming, but what new features can we expect?
The announcement of the iPad 4 during Apple's October 2012 event came as a surprise to many, but one expert was quick to predict that the company would release a thinner, lighter iPad 5 in early 2013.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst for KGI Securities, the fourth generation full-sized iPad (and the iPad mini, which was launched at the same event) might not be enough to fend off competitors. Kuo cited Microsoft'sSurface tablet as posing a particular risk to Apple's dominance. Hey, don't laugh, Surface has grabbed 7.5 per cent of recent market share.
Shortly after the iPad 4 launch, Kuo wrote in a note to investors, reported by AppleInsider, that Apple may feel pressured to launch a 9.7-inch iPad 5 to cement its lead in the tablet business.
"Though the iPad mini is expected to be successful, we think launching the lighter, thinner 9.7-inch iPad as quickly as possible matters more for Apple strategically," Kuo wrote.
While the release date was incorrect, the idea of a thinner, lighter iPad has since been backed up by further rumors.
iPad 5 release date
Digitimes reported on 19 November 2012 that the iPad 5 release date would be "around the middle of 2013", while on 24 December 2012, an "inside source" talking to Japanese site Macotakara, wrongly pegged the new iPad release date as March 2013.
That incorrect March release date was repeated by Brian White of Topeka Capital Markets on 12 January 2013 and by Gene Munster of investment bank Piper Jaffray on 15 February. White was citing supposed industry insiders at the CES expo in Las Vegas, while also writing in a note to investors that Apple is moving to a bi-annual iPad refresh schedule.
Munster, as reported by AppleInsider, reckoned: "The history of time between Apple product launch events suggests that the company will introduce something new in March or April. Over the past two years, the spring event has been iPad updates."
Also citing an April release, apparently knowledgeable sources revealed to iMore in March that the iPad 5 would be available in April. Given the date now, those sources might want to re-label themselves as "not at all knowledgeable".
On 25 January, iLounge editor-in-chief Jeremy Horwitz, claiming to have seen the new iPad 5, wrote that the fifth-gen iPad would not go on sale until October 2013. That sounds more likely to us. Horwitz also said that the iPad mini 2 would be launched in the same month.
Spring vs autumn
So it seems that observers spent the end of 2012 and early 2013 divided on whether we'd see the new iPad in spring or autumn, with pundits dashing around and lining up like a game of Runaround. On 22 February, analyst firm TrendForce opted for the autumn launch line, claiming that we'll see a completely overhauled iPad 5 in September 2013.
Just to throw an extra release date into the mix, accessory manufacturer MiniSuit reckoned the new iPad would be released in June. Gizmorati also wrongly claimed that the iPad 5 would be shown off in June - specifically on June 29, six years to the day from the launch of the original iPhone. Citing an "inside source from Apple", Gizmorati claimed on 19 March that an event, called 'Original Passion, New Ideas', would see the launch not just of the new iPad but also of the iPhone 5S. However, given that June 29 wa a Saturday, that particular rumor was always one for the 'Probably Total BS' file.
So in summary, the iPad 5 will be released in either March (wrong!), April (wrong!), June (wrong!), September or October.
The early release dates mentioned above could have slipped due to a shortage of touch sensors for the iPad mini (the same sensors that are expected to be used in the next iPad) if you believe a Digitimes report of 7 March. Japanese firm Nishha - Apple's main supplier of the sensors - was reportedly boosting its output to meet demand but Digitime's sources reckoned the iPad mini 2 and iPad 5 could still be fighting over this component when they go into production, causing one of them to be delayed.
The Taiwanese site now reckons, as per a later report of 9 April 2013, that iPad 5 production will begin in the "July-August" period of this year, which will no doubt please those analysts who are predicting an autumn release.
On 20 May 2013, Digitimes reiterated that production of the iPad 5 will begin in July, this time adding that Apple will be able to roll out two million to three million units starting in September. And on 3 June Digitimes again claimed that production would begin in July, with shipments (now estimated at five million units) going out in the third quarter.
We've also heard, via a report on International Business Times, that Apple is ditching Foxconn as its iPad-manufacturing partner due to the "unreliability" of the Chinese firm (which also happens to be producing Android handsets and recently announced its own wearable tech that could compete with the iWatch).
Apparently, this split is causing a delay in getting those new iPads made, although the supposed delay puts the iPad 5 release date sometime in the Autumn, a launch window that many people (including us) have been speculating on for ages.
As of late July 2103, we're still on track for an October iPad release,according to International Business Times, which wrote on July 22: "iPad 5 is pegged for a release date that will come shortly after the iPhone 5S rumored late September debut, placing the former to launch by the first week of October."
iPad 5 price
When Apple introduces a new product it's usually priced to match the one that it supersedes. So with this in mind, we're looking at US$499 (£399, AU$539) for the Wi-Fi-only 16GB iPad 5, US$599 (£479, AU$649) for the 32GB model, US$699 (£559, AU$759) for the 64GB and US$799 (£639, AU$869) for the 128GB iPad.
International Business Times doesn't necessarily agree, though. In a 1 July report, the site talks of how it's "speculated" (by who, we don't know) that Apple will price the iPad 5 at $100 less than the $499 launch price of the iPad 4. Why would it do this? Because the iPad 2 is due to be discontinued and Apple wants "something in the $399 spot," writes IB Times. Hmmm.
iPad 5 features and specifications
Apple gave the iPad 4 a new A6X processor system-on-a-chip, which it claims to be twice as fast as the previous iPad.
It also gained the new lightning connector and better LTE support. But that's all the new features iPad fans got with the fourth-gen tablet.
And considering the current iPad is the same weight, thickness and price point as its predecessor, it's very possible Apple is looking to produce a slimmed-down version.
On 14 December 2012, Macworld cited a report in Digitimes that claims that one way Apple will reduce the weight of the new iPad will be by using one LED light bar instead of the two that are found in the current iPad (and that were first introduced in the iPad 3). Macworld points out that this would also mean that the iPad 5 would consume less power and could therefore run on a smaller, thinner battery.
Another way that the new iPad may slim down is by reducing the size of the LED backlight. Paul Semenza, analyst at NPD DisplaySearch, wrote: "It's likely that part of the thinner/lighter design will be reducing the size of the LED backlight, partly by making the display more efficient and partly by using more efficient LEDs."
And on a 17 April, Ming-Chi Kuo wrote a new note, summarised by MacRumors. In his note, Kuo wrote that he expected the new iPad to be 15% thinner and 25% lighter than the iPad 4, that weight reduction coming in part from a battery which is "25-30% smaller" and "15-20% thinner".
iLounge's Jeremy Horwitz claimed in January 2013 that the iPad 5 has virtually no left or right bezels in portrait mode, with just enough space above and below the display for the home button, sensors and front camera. The iPad case designs that subsequently leaked in February and April suggest that this claim could be correct.
On 20 May 2013, we again heard that the new iPad was on a diet, shedding up to 33 percent of the iPad 4's weight, according to a report from DigiTimes, which cited unnamed supply chain sources in Taiwan. The report repeated December 2012 claims that the iPad 5 will drop weight by using one LED light bar instead of two and added that the Retina display would use a thinner 0.2mm piece of glass (the iPad 4 uses 0.25mm glass). If correct, the new iPad would weigh in at under 500g.
iPad 5 dimensions
Want to see the rear casing for the new iPad? Then you're in luck. On 22 April, accessory maker Tactus posted a photo to its blog, showing what it says is the rear shell for the iPad 5. It's not the most fascinating picture we've seen but it does suggest that the new tablet will retain the 9.7-inch screen size that was introduced with the original iPad. The blog post also claims that the iPad 5 will be 7.2mm thick, slimming down from the current-generation's 9.4mm.
On 29 July, French tech site nowhereelse.fr posted what it claimed to be leaked schematics of the iPad 5, writing that the design has been modeled on the iPad mini. "If my calculations are correct, the iPad 5 would measure around 232mm long and 178.5mm wide against 241.3mm long and 185.8mm wide for the iPad 4," added the article author. (Google Translation)
iPad 5 display
Kuo expects Apple to pack "GF DITO" (or GF2) touchscreen technology into the speculative new iPad 5. GF2 is already used in the new iPad mini, which helps to make it 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter than its bigger brother.
Those screens may make the move to a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio if Los Angeles industry analyst Paul Mueller is correct. "I have talked to at least three people close to Apple who say that there are new iPad prototypes that have a 16:9 aspect ratio," Mueller told The Examiner in September 2012. That change would ideal for watching movies but as it would make the iPad taller and narrower, holding it in portrait mode would be a little awkward.
But who will be producing the display for the new iPad? Not Samsung,reckons GottaBe Mobile, claiming that Apple is "actively moving away from Samsung for the next generation of mobile products." According to a rumor the site picked up from etnews, when Apple sent out a request to parts manufacturers for estimates, Samsung was not a recipient of the request. The same GottaBe Mobile report claims that Samsung is falling out of favour as manufacturer of the A7 processor, too.
DigiTimes reckons the iPad screens will be supplied by LG and Sharp.
iPad 5 processor
Brian White, who incorrectly pegged the iPad 5 launch as March 2013 and who reckons that there will now be a new iPad every six months, also wrote in his January 2013 note to investors that the iPad 5 would feature an improved A6X processor.
Patently Apple lent weight to the notion of Apple taking its processor manufacturing business away from its best buddy Samsung, citing a report published on 10 April 2013. According to the report: the "chasm between Samsung Electronics and Apple is expected to widen further as Apple has excluded its Korean rival from a project to develop A7 application processors due to be released in the first half of next year."
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reckons that the Apple/Samsung partnership has some life left, though. As picked up by MacRumors on 17 April, Kuo wrote that the iPad 4 would be powered by an A7X processor and that Apple would be staying with Samsung for this chip at least.
Other iPad 5 features
It's possible that the new iPad will feature a vibrating mode for message alerts and haptic feedback (within games, for example). This news comes courtesy of Patently Apple, which reported on March 21 that Apple has applied for a patent for "an audio codec with vibrator support". Click the image on the left to view full size.
Accessory maker Tactus reckons the rear-facing camera will be getting an upgrade, increasing resolution from 5MP to 8MP.
We're hearing a rather unlikely rumor from IB Times that the iPad 5 might come with a stylus. The rationale for this is that the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and the Galaxy Note 10.1 both come with a stylus and Apple is in competition with Samsung. Also, "many people" reckon the iPad needs a stylus for the iPad drawing apps, says the May 6 report, which forgets to mention that you can already buy third-party iPad styluses. Hmm. Needs more salt, this one.
iPad 5 case clues
It seems that case manufacturers believe that the iPad 5 will take its design cues from the iPad mini, being thinner than the current iPad, and with smaller side bezels, which fits with Horwitz's observations.
Accessory maker Minisuit supplied MacRumors with pictures of iPad 5 cases that it has created based on what it believes to be the correct iPad 5 dimensions. The cases are slightly smaller than the iPad 4 ones and feature a hole on the back for the supposedly relocated microphone.
And as we reported on 26 February 2013, another third party case manufacturer - this time Shenzhen Sinofly Electronic Company Limited - has also begun to produce iPad 5 cases with a form factor more in line with the iPad mini.
What may or may not be actual Apple iPad 5 cases appeared online on 10 April. If genuine, these cases also show that the iPad 5 will have thinner bezels, as well as retaining the home button and front-facing camera. And as the case is white, we can assume that the white edition of the iPad isn't going anywhere.
On 16 April 2013, supposed iPad 5 cases appeared again, this time at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair. As posted on engadget, these third-party cases, apparently based on leaked specs, also suggest an upcoming iPad that'll be slimmer than the iPad 4 as well as featuring thinner, iPad mini-like left and right side bezels when in portrait mode.
Then we got two more leaks in quick succession. On 5 August 2013 we were given another look at what may or may not be an official Apple iPad 5 case.
On 8 August, Macrumors reportedthat Macfixit Australia divulged a series of images "from the company's supplier" stating they are the iPad 5's front panel and digitizer.
The leak says the tablet will now have two connectors instead of one, and also include the following change: "FFC (Flat Flexible Cable, like the iPad 2/3/4) to FPC (Flexible Printed Circuits, like the iPhone 4/5)" further showing that Apple is intent on creating a slimmed down tablet.
Macfixit also claims the display area is the same as the iPad Retina and that the ITO (Indium tin oxide) is exactly like the iPad mini.
A video has surfaced and may very well show the casing for the iPad 5, though please take those words with a grain or two of salt.
Unlike new iPad images picked up by FantasticFone, the silver back here has a transparent or translucent logo. There's a screen on this case too, but there's not much to gather about that particular piece.
On 28 August, pics of the iPad 5's front panel surfaced again, this time in two dozen photos posted at SonnyDickson.com. The shots show the front panel from multiple angles, highlighting the the thinness of the iPad 5's bezels as well as capturing a couple of the new tablet's connectors.
iPad 5 wireless charging?
A patent first filed by Apple in September 2011 that AppleInsider discovered on 14 March 2013 reveals that Apple is looking into equipping its iPad Smart Covers with induction coils so that you'll be able to charge your iPad simply by closing the cover.
The patent, called "Integrated inductive charging in protective cover," talks of "an inductive power transmitter arranged to wirelessly pass power to a corresponding inductive power receiver unit disposed within the tablet device."
There are two ways this technology could work. One is that the cover is charged from the mains and it transfers this power to your iPad. The other, as theorised by Mark Hattersley at MacWorld, is that the cover "takes power wirelessly from a plugged-in iPad and stores it in an internal battery. It then sends it wirelessly in the other direction when you use the device."
iPad 5 accessories
The iPad 5 may launch with an official Apple gaming joypad if a report by Pocket Gamer is to be believed. According to the report, Apple held secret meetings with developers at GDC 2013, where it discussed the games that would support the controller at launch.
Should this device exist, it could also launch alongside the rumored Apple iTV. As Pocket Gamer notes: "Given the opportunities a dedicated controller would provide in the living room, we'd expect it to be part of a large announcement also revealing Apple's wide TV strategy, including a direct assault on the console businesses of Sony and Microsoft."
iPad 5 mockups
Federico Ciccarese of CiccareseDesign has produced some renders for MacRumors showing how the new iPad might look, with its smaller bezel allowing a shrunken case with the same screen size as the current iPad.
The mockups were based on leaked images of a supposed iPad 5 shell which were posted to 9to5Mac on 28 January 2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment