iPad 5, iPad Mini 2 Set to Appear at October 22 Apple Event, Devices Will Not Feature Touch ID
The iPad 5 and the iPad mini 2 are expected to be introduced at Apple's Oct. 22 media event this week. The company's new full-sized iPad will be thinner and lighter than the previous version, and the smaller model will come with a Retina display, according to a new research report by KGI Securities analyst Ming Chi-Kuo.
Retina displays coming on the iPad mini have been debated by analysts in the past, but Kuo feels that they definitely will be one of the features on the upcoming device. He did agree with some of the previous reports that said supplies will be highly constrained at launch.
Kuo also stated that neither device will come with the Touch ID capabilities found on the iPhone 5S. They will not come in a gold color option either as the production of components related to those features are still being prioritized for the iPhone 5S.
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Kuo weighed in on other features on the iPad 5 such as the new A7X processor that will give the tablet a significant boost in speed. The iPad mini 2 will come with a slightly less powerful A7 chip that can be found on the iPhone 5S. Both of the new iPads will feature 8-megapixel cameras along with the M7 chip from the 5S that specializes in motion tracking.
Kuo also believes that Apple will introduce a new Retina MacBook Pro line that will use Intel's latest Haswell chips for improved performance and battery life. They are expected to upgrade the FaceTime camera on the front to 1080p quality as well.
Kuo predicts that the iPad 5 will drive a significant increase in sales of the full-sized iPad for the company. He also expects sales to rise for the MacBook Pro.
