Apple has invited the media to an event it is holding on Oct. 22. The company is expected to announce the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 with Retina Display.
It has been less than a month since Apple launched its latest smartphone lineup with the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c and now the company is ready to introduce the world to its next-generation iPads. Apple sent out invites with the message of "We still have a lot to cover" to announce and confirm its much-rumored Oct. 22 iPad event.
We have a pretty good idea of what Apple plans on announcing thanks to all the leaked images of both the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2. The iPad 5 will get its first major redesign since the iPad 2 and take design cues from the iPad mini. It will retain its signature 9.7-inch Retina Display and will also be smaller, thinner, and lighter than previous versions. The tablet will have thin bezels around its display just like its smaller sibling and is rumored to inherit some features from Apple's flagship iPhone 5s.
Leaked images have shown that the iPad 5 will be offered in the same silver and space gray color options found in the iPhone 5s. The tablet is expected to use the same 64-bit A7 processor, which offers desktop class capabilities and user experiences on a mobile device. It will also likely include the iPhone 5s' Touch ID fingerprint scanner, which allows users to unlock the device and make iTunes purchases by simply placing a finger on the familiar home button that now serves double duty.
Apple will also address the biggest criticism it faced when it launched the iPad mini last year. The 7.9-inch tablet will finally achieve Retina Display status and current rumors suggest the smaller iPad will also inherit the A7 processor, but, just like the iPhone 5c, its home button will not include Touch ID. Recent leaks claim that the iPad mini 2's Retina Display will force Apple to make the tablet a hair thicker than its predecessor at 7.5mm compared to the current 7.2mm in order to accommodate the new display and larger battery needed to power it. Apple did the same thing when it released the iPad 3 with Retina Display; the tablet was 0.6mm thicker than the iPad 2. The increase in thickness should not alarm anyone, when Apple shipped the iPad 3 it was virtually impossible to tell the difference compared to the iPad 2.
We'll have to wait until Oct. 22 to hear all the official details from Tim Cook and company, but we'll bring you all the latest news from the event.
