iPad 5 Release Date As Early as October, iPad Mini 2 Delayed Again
The days leading up to any event led by the likes of Apple are sure to be abuzz with rumors, and the WWDC is one of those events where rumors are far more rampant than most.
For this round of rumors, the device that's at the central focus is the iPad 5, which is garnering better results in terms of keeping in schedule compared to another of Apple's upcoming devices.
Talking to analyst Jeremy Horwitz from iLounge, Highlight Press reports that the WWDC is the perfect time to make announcements regarding the iPad 5, given that the same trend happened last year with the 4th generation iPad.
Horwitz even took it one step further, predicting the release of the iPad 5 to be as soon as October this year. He also affirmed some of the previously rumored reports surrounding the features, citing the 9.7-inch screen size, reduced bezels, and chamfered edges.
iPad Mini 2 headed for another delay
While the iPad 5 seems to be showing good signs of progress, the same may not be said for the iPad Mini 2, which according to CNet, may have been pushed back in terms of production schedule until November.
The source for the rumor is from a Taiwan-based publication, wherein sources from the supply chain claimed the delay were caused by two things, production problems and Apple's decision to push back the production.
The latter reason has some bearing, considering that similar release dates for the iPad Mini 2 and the iPad 5 can actually be less beneficial for the company, seeing as how the two devices are pretty similar in terms of usage.
If the delay does push through, the problem will now be on the consumers--in terms of which one they will buy, or more importantly, if it's worth buying one of which when the two Apple devices come out.
A holiday release to become a trend?
Considering all the delays and pushing back of the release dates, Gizmag reports that a new trend may be brewing for Apple.
Compared to how the evenly-spaced releases during Steve Jobs time, when you can expect an iPad in latter part of Q1 or early Q2, around late Q2 for the iPhone, and early Q3 for the iPod, this time, the releases seem to be centered on the holidays.
This can mean that the Pad 5 may go for a pre-holiday October release, and perhaps a breathing room of two months before the iPad Mini 2 comes just before the year ends.
The reasoning for this may be that the holidays are always a profitable time, in light of celebrations and all that spending. However, it does put Apple in the backseat, considering this year's scenario where everyone else except for Apple has released a flagship phone for 2013.
It'll be good if Apple will lay down its plans come the WWDC to clear up some things, and make sure that it's still on track with its consumers.