Apple released its third- and fourth-generation iPads last year with powerful processors and gorgeous Retina displays. So how will the Cupertino, California-based company improve its full-size tablet in 2013?
According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s fifth-generation iPad, which we’ll call “iPad 5,” is expected to be “significantly lighter and slimmer” than last year’s 9.7-inch models, and it will be released sometime in the third quarter of 2013.
Let’s get one thing straight: Ming-Chi Kuo is one of the best in the business. He is a consistently accurate analyst: For example, last year, Kuo correctly predicted Apple’s entire product slate for the second half of 2012 — including two new iPads (the iPad Mini and iPad 4 at the end of the year), the Retina display MacBook Pro, the redesigned iMac and much more — as well as the respective release dates for each of those devices. Kuo hit the nail on the head with almost every Apple product last year, which means that Kuo’s predictions should be considered when discussing future iDevices.
That said, Kuo believes the design of the next full-size iPad will more closely resemble Apple’s newly released iPad Mini, which features a full aluminum enclosure for lightness, thinner side bezels and a diamond-cut chamfer finish.
Besides the iPad 5, Kuo predicts Apple will refresh the Apple TV experience in the first quarter of 2013 and will wait until the end of the second quarter and beginning of the third quarter to release a slew of new Mac and iOS devices, including two new iPhones, a second-generation iPad Mini, a new MacBook Air, a newly redesigned Retina MacBook Pro, and updates to the iPod Touch and Nano. Kuo believes Apple will reserve the fourth quarter to unveil an updated iMac and a new Mac Mini.
Dave Smith is a reporter for International Business Times, where this piece original appeared.