A new report has come to light suggesting that Apple is preparing to launch the fifth generation iPad and the second generation of the iPad mini (i.e. iPad mini 2), during March of this year. The prediction comes from Brian White who is an analyst with Topeka Capital Markets and who apparently conducted some ‘checks at the recently-held CES in Las Vegas (via MacRumors). Those ‘checks’ were apparently the source of the information for the launch of the next generation iPad line-up.
The details on the new devices are relatively scarce although White does say that the iPad 5 is expected to be lighter and thinner than the current generation model, but that the iPad mini form factor will look much like the first generation iPad mini. There are no details in the report as to whether the second generation iPad mini will adopt a Retina Display.
Aside from that, there’s no word on the reliability of the reports but they are not outwith the realms of possibility. Apple chose March last year to launch the third generation iPad, although the fourth generation iPad with minor changes was released in October of last year alongside the iPad mini. The fourth generation model release was likely due to a need to encourage adoption of the new Lightning connector.
One would assume that Apple is not going eventually be following the same release cycle as, say, Firefox, but the company may indeed be looking to decrease the intervals between new generations of their devices.
Quickly…