iPad Mini with Retina Display expected next year, 5th gen iPad to be lighter

When Apple introduced the iPad Mini, so as to better compete with the growing number of smaller, cheaper tablets out there, it came with a surprise: a screen that wasn’t a Retina Display. The iPad Mini ships with a 1024 x 768 resolution panel, which equates to a 163ppi density.

It won’t come as a surprise to many that the first update to the iPad Mini is expected to change that. According to sources from the backlighting industry, the next iPad Mini will ship with a Retina Display, and most likely offer a 2058 x 1536 resolution, meaning a 326ppi density.

So when will this new iPad Mini arrive? It’s unlikely Apple would want to release another tablet refresh for a while. Both the 4th generation iPad and iPad Mini were released in November, so we shouldn’t expect an iPad Mini with Retina Display until November 2013. Of course, Apple’s competitors seem to be constantly pushing out new and better models. So how far behind will the iPad Mini be if Apple waits another 11 months before a refresh? It isn’t out of the question that if Apple waits until November next year, that 2058 x 1536 resolution could be commonplace or even superseded.

There’s also a rumor surrounding the 5th generation iPad . Apparently Apple is focused on making it lighter, and with that in mind is moving to a design that only requires one LED bar instead of the two used in the current model. Not only will that save on weight and cost, it should free up some room inside the tablet for other/new components.

Source : geek