New images of the upcoming iPad 5 surfaced online along with a string of rumours that claimed that the iPad 5 will be released not on March but in October.

In a new report, iLounge editor-in-chief Jeremy Horowitz claims that the iPad 5 might not be released until October, "give or take a couple weeks" due to what he believes is a shortage of component supplies.

According to Horowitz, who apparently had some time with an iPad 5 prototype earlier in January, the new iPad will utilize a design similar to the iPad Mini's.

There will be practically 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.

On the other hand, 9to5Mac published new photos of what could be the rear panel for the next iPad. The images match up very closely with a report from last week.

The photos show the prototype back piece for the fifth-generation iPad with a 9.7-inch display as well as that of the iPad Mini. In one of the purported images of the iPad 5 backplate, the casing would likely be for an LTE model - as the black antenna cut implies.

The report lines up with iLounge's first description of the new iPad which is expected to arrive in October with smaller, iPad mini-esque bezels and chamfered edges and curves. In portrait orientation, picture a 9.7" screen with virtually no left or right bezels, and only enough space above and below the screen to accommodate the mandatory camera and Home Button elements.

Patently Apple cited a Chinese tech website, "My Drivers," claiming that a Hon Hai Precision (Foxconn) insider revealed the design of the upcoming iPad 5.

Foxconn is Apple's partner in manufacturing its devices. The insider claimed that the new tablet from Apple will sport narrow bezels and chamfered edge corners. The report also suggests that the device will be codenamed as sapoxx.

Early this month, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the iPad 5 will be arrive mid this year, probably either in June or July. The analyst have predicted the releases of Apple's previous devices correctly.

Kuo expects the 9.7-inch fifth generation iPad to feature a design that is more or less similar to the iPad Mini, "significantly lighter and slimmer" than the design featured in the third- and fourth-generation models. The upcoming tablet is expected to be powered by an A7 processor with IGZO screen display.

Kuo also believes that the release date of the iPad 5 is scheduled for the third quarter of 2013, which comes in contrast with recent rumours that the device will be released in the month of March, as was the case with the first three generations of the tablet.

However, the Cupertino-based company remained tight-lipped on the rumours and on its plans for this year.

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