Apple is reportedly using the same iPad Mini display for the 9.7-inch iPad 5 that would allow the tech giant to build a thinner and lighter regular-sized tablet computer.

The upcoming iPad 5, according to DigiTimes, "is expected to use the same thin-film DITO (G/F2) touch panel structure as Apple's current iPad min." One of the main suppliers for the display component is Taiwanese firm TPK, the same report said.

The new development now suggests that the iPad Mini has become Apple's template in an apparent major redesign effort for the bigger iPad, which saw plummeting sales figures in the immediate months following the 7.9-inch Mini's release.

DigiTimes also indicated on its report that the iPad 5 release will likely happen on third quarter this year and September is the latest rollout target set by Apple for its refreshed slate.

By that time, consumers are likely to get two identical iPads, which differ only in screen sizes but with almost the same profile.

Apart from its thin-film touch screen, notable about the new iPad screen technology is its smart technology that "intelligently recognizes whether your thumb is simply resting on the display or whether you're intentionally interacting with it," Gotta Be Mobile said in a report.

However, with the entry of new panel component for the iPad 5, the likelihood of the slate hitting store shelves on April, as suggested by many blog reports, has been nixed, with DigiTimes pointing to Apple's ramped display panel shipments that will take place on Q3 2013.

Such prospect also hints that a simultaneous launch of the iPad 5 and the iPad Mini 2 is in the works as what happened when Apple released the two devices on October 2012.

Experts tend to believe more on the September unwrapping for the two iPads despite the emergence of reports last week that Apple is pushing for something big on June 29.

If that date proved to be a major Apple gadget introduction, it would be an iPhone event, in which the iPhone 5S and its budget version will be previewed by the tech giant.

The iPad 5 and the iPad Mini 2 will have to wait a few more months after the rumoured June function by Apple, some experts said.