Fifth generation iPad to be 25 percent lighter and 15 percent thinner: Report

AppleInsider is quoting Ming-Chi Kuo, Analyst at KGI Securities to state that the weight and thickness will be the key selling points for fifth generation iPad. Furthermore, he states that both Apple's third and fourth generation iPads didn't do as well in the marketplace as they could have since both of them are heavier and thicker than the iPad 2. However, now the company is planning to change the same.

Kuo also mentions that in his opinion the fifth generation iPad will be only 7.5-8.0mm thick. He believes that the company will be able to control the thickness by adopting GF2 screen technology, in place of GG touch tech. GF2 screen technology will also help in reducing power consumption of the iPad and which as per him will result in 25 to 30 percent reduction in battery size without hampering the existing performance.

As per Kuo, the fifth generation iPad is expected to weight approximately 500 grams, as opposed to 652 grams as per Kuo.

Even in the past, there have been rumours suggesting that iPad 5 will be indeed slimmer and lighter than the existing model. The tablet is expected to support a 9.7-inch display, which is reportedly being developed by LG Display and Sharp. The iPad 5 is also expected to come with thinner bezels on the lines of iPad mini.

Grapevine has it that Apple will be commencing production of its fifth generation iPad in July or August. In his report, Kuo has also predicted that Apple will ship 15 million units of iPad 5 by the end of 2013. In addition to this, the analyst opines that Apple will be launching an iPad mini 2 in the second half of 2013. In his opinion, the iPad mini 2 will constitute 60 to 65 percent share of the overall iPad shipments.