Apple sent out invitations to the media this week for a special iPad event next week. To better prepare you, here are all the iPad rumors you need to know.
iPad Media Event
An iPad event is officially set for October 22 in San Francisco. Apple is expected to unveil a redesigned fifth-generation iPad, and a second-generation iPad mini. Apple may also show off the Mac Pro desktop and OS X Mavericks. The event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and will begin at 10:00 AM Pacific Time on October 22, 2013.
iPad 5 Rumors
iPad 5 Design: The new 5th-generation iPad will share a similar design to the current iPad mini – a thinner and more streamlined model. Apple will likely keep the 9.7″ retina display that is on the current iPad 4, but may also add features from the iPhone 5S. New iPad rumors say the device will adopt the same color palette as the iPhone 5S adding silver, space-gray and gold models to the iPad product line.
iPad 5 Features: A sapphire home button and Touch ID could be incorporated into the iPad bringing extra security and a buzz-worthy (upgrade-worthy?) feature. It will also likely have the same 64-bit A7 processor and M7 motion chip that was released in the iPhone 5S this September making the iPad 5 the most powerful tablet on the market. Last but not least the 8Mp camera from the iPhone 5S or 5C could be incorporated into the tablet. Get ready to see consumers waving their gigantic cameras (iPads) in your face just in time for the holidays.
iPad 5 Release Date & Prices: With the event set for the 22nd, Apple will probably open up preorders on the 25th and the tablet would hit stores on November 1st. As for the price, the base 16GB WiFi model should cost $499 and the 32/64/128 GB WiFi models costing $599, $699 and $799, respectively. The 4G LTE models should cost $629, $729, $829 and $929.
iPad Mini 2 Rumors
iPad Mini 2 Design: The design on the new iPad mini shouldn’t veer too much from the current model. Apple will stick with the 7.9″ screen. iPad Rumors hints the iPad mini may be available in new colors, maybe even a gold model. All the physical dimensions should stay the same unless a retina display comes to the pint sized tablet.
iPad Mini 2 Features: With the current iPad mini running only the A5 chip from Apple, the next logical step would be an A6 chip. However, many recent rumors have pointed to the smaller tablet skipping the A6 chip for the current A7 chip found in the iPhone 5S. This would make the new iPad mini a 64-bit processing monster. The biggest and most talked about feature for the next iPad mini has to be the expected retina display. The Wall Street Journal reported that the 7.9-inch screen’s resolution will double from 1024 × 768 from last year’s model to 2048 x 1536.
iPad Mini 2 Release Date & Prices: Just like the iPad 5 we should see pre-orders begin on October 25th for the iPad mini 2. This would put the new tablet hitting stores on November 1st. As for the price, the 16GB WiFi model should cost $329 to start. With the 32/64 GB WiFi models costing $429 and $529. The 4G LTE models should cost $459, $559 and $659.