iPad 5 and iPad mini 2: rumors, release date, iOS 6.2, pricing and more

Apple will revamp its iPad lineup before the spring is over, bringing a flurry of changes to the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2. The release date, expected in April or May, will precede that of the upcoming early summer new iPhone, The new Apple tablets will also land ahead of iOS 7, meaning that they’ll be running a variant of iOS 6 likely called iOS 6.2. Apple has released new iPads in the spring of each year since Steve Jobs introduced the device in 2010. Last year the company double dipped by releasing the iPad 4 and the first iPad mini in the fall after having introduced the iPad 3 in the traditional spring slot. With all of that in mind, what can you expect when the iPad mini 2 and iPad 5 land this spring?

In the pricing department, expect the iPad mini 2 to potentially fall to $299 from its current $329 perch. The first iPad mini has sold well at that price point, but faces pricing pressure from inexpensive Android sub-tablets of similar sizes. The iPad 5 could retain its current $499 and up pricing scheme, or could dip down to $399 to wipe out the existing iPad 2, Apple’s sole remaining tablet not to use the new Lightning connector port.

When it comes to screens, the iPad mini 2 should advance into retina display territory. The iPad 5 already sports the technology, which is as pixel-dense as the human eye can see. The only way Apple could improve the screen would be to employ the technology it’s in the process of patenting which allows for a screen that wraps around to both sides of the device, effectively giving it twice as large of a screen without making the device any physically taller or wider. Whether users would be motivated to take advantage of a two sided screen remains to be seen.

iOS 7 will not be released by the spring, as it’s not yet even been given to developers for beta testing. That means the iPad 5 and iPad 2 will initially run iOS 6 if they do indeed see a release date in April or May. Apple would most likely preload them with iOS 6.2 which would contain some modest yet marketable new software features, while releasing the 6.2 update for current users.

Rumors of a complete redesign of the full sized iPad appear to be wishful thinking thus far, with no concrete evidence having surfaced to suggest that the iPad 5 will look drastically different than its four predecessors. The WSJ report confirming that Apple has been working on expanded color choices for a new low cost iPhone, combined with its introduction of colors on the iPod touch last fall, point to the possibility of the iPad 5 or iPad mini 2 coming in colors. AS of yet iPads have only been offered in a choice of black or white.

- stableytimes