iPad 5 Release Rumored for Summer, Again

The iPad 5 release is rumored for summer according to iPad 5 production rumors which claim that next iPad production will kick into high gear in July or August 2013.

Apple is rumored to be working on a thinner, lighter iPad 5 that takes design cues from the iPad mini, but with a full size screen that would replace the iPad 4 as Apple’s flagship tablet.

A fifth-generation iPad is commonly called the iPad 5, because it is the fifth iPad with a 9.7-inch display from Apple.

The latest iPad 5 rumors come from DigiTimes, a publication known for passing on supply chain gossip for Apple and other manufacturers. The publication is not always accurate, but with multiple sources in the Apple supply chain the information occasionally predicts Apple’s moves many months in advance.

In this rumor, volume production of the iPad 5 is expected to kick off in July or August, which would place the iPad 5 release in time for late summer.

A separate DigiTimes report claims the iPad 5 will use new display technology, like that found in the iPad mini and the company providing the touch panels predicts increased orders for iPad 5 touch screen components in the third quarter of 2013, which aligns with rumors of July or August.

Read: iPad 5 Release Date & Rumor Roundup

Both of these reports line up with a rumor from CNYes, which claims Apple is prepping suppliers to deliver iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 components en masse during Q3 2013. The other rumors from DigiTimes focus on the larger iPad 5, but there is speculation that Apple is planning to launch an updated version of the iPad mini alongside the iPad 5 at an iPad event.

iPad 5 Release In Late 2013 Possible

Recently multiple sources pointed to an iPad 5 release in April, or at least early plans for such an event, but given the lack of event invites at this time and additional rumors for summer or fall, Apple may not be able to pull off an iPad 5 release in April.

While Apple is known for releasing a new iPad in the Spring, the iPad 4 release arrived late in 2012 with the iPad mini, and may mark a long-term change to the iPad release cycle. The iPad 4 was the first iPad to launch before the holidays which helped Apple sell nearly 50% more iPads that it did in the same period one year earlier.

Read: How the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 Could Complete Apple’s Lineup

If this rumor is correct, and Apple is shifting the iPad 5 release to summer or fall, the company would be in a better position to keep holiday sales strong. A three to 4 month old ipad is an easier sell during the holidays than one that is nearly a year old and likely to see a replacement three months into the new year.

iPad 5 Design and Display

The iPad 5 display is rumored to stick with the same 9.7-inch size as the iPad 4 and will likely feature the same Retina Display resolution which appeals to shoppers. The iPad 5 may use a new touch screen technology, like that found in the iPad mini, which enables a thinner and lighter iPad.

The iPad 5 is also said to use a design similar to the iPad mini. Leaked parts and rumors show a thinner design with an iPad mini-style finish and rounded corners as well as the thinner bezels of the iPad mini. Apple includes enhancements in iOS to prevent errant touches on the screen, which work well on the iPad mini.