Rumours claimed that the upcoming iPad 5 set to be released later this year will feature thin-film touch panels Apple uses in its iPad Mini.

The inclusion of thin-film touch panels will make the bigger iPad thinner and lighter.

According to a report from Digitimes, suppliers of thin-film panels are likely to see a significant increase in orders from Apple in the third quarter of this year, as the company prepares to release its fifth-generation iPad. Suppliers are preparing the same thin-film DITO (G/F2) touch screen technology as the iPad mini users for a major third-quarter push for the iPad 5.

The new display tech is proven with the iPad mini, allowing Apple to cut deliver an iPad that is 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter. Apple is already rumored to bring the iPad mini case design to the iPad 5, and it looks like the screen technology will come along with it to help Apple make a thinner, lighter iPad 5.

The screen display of iPad mini combines with smaller bezels around the screen and software that, "intelligently recognizes whether your thumb is simply resting on the display or whether you're intentionally interacting with it." This feature makes using an iPad display with thinner bezels and a thinner overall size easier without accidentally triggering touch points.

However, the iPad 5 is rumoured to have no bezels, and the whole form factor has been made sleeker. Horowitz believes this design indicates that Apple will be calling on Sharp's IGZO screen technology. Sharp, however, according to Horowitz, has been struggling, and its ability to deliver components on time will play a key role in the release of the next iPad.

In February, Apple introduced a new 128GB model of its fourth-generation iPad, so an April launch for a new design seems unlikely so soon after the new model hit the shelves. However, the Cupertino-based company remained tight-lipped on the rumours and on its plans for this year.