iPad 5

     iPad 5 was about to Outstripp iPad Mini 2 with the Release Date

If you are among the millions of people who get excited about each iPad release, clearly you haven’t had many opportunities to get curious lately. Apple only released the slightly upgraded version of 9.7 inch iPad and the iPad Mini last year, but all of us were disappointed by the disruption of Apple’s traditional March/April cycle of new releases. Bottom line, we were left with empty hands during the first half of 2013 and we are not happy about that fact.

According to the latest rumors in the technology world, Apple is considering to release an improved 5^thgeneration of the iPad before this year is over, but there is a slight surprise: the iPad Mini is expected to be released several months after the iPad 5. In fact, according to the report from DigiTimes, the iPad Mini of the second generation might not hit the market until November. Where does this change in Apple’s usual release patterns come from?

The same DigiTimes report is also supporting some of the earlier rumors about the iPad 5 being launched in a more compact appearance that will be close to the iPad mini. Its weight is supposed to be reduced, and it will feature a thinner form factor and narrower side bezels. In fewer words, it’s supposed to be iPad mini-esque.

Reasons for the alternation

You must be wondering about the reasons for this alternation. Apple never does random things, so there must be a good explanation behind this switch. First of all, it’s been reported that the immense success of Apple’s iPad Mini was coming at the expense of Apple’s original iPad. The numbers of sales are clear and undeniable: the Mini version of the tablet is enjoying greater popularity on the market. This explains why the manufacturer decided to give the 5^thgeneration of iPad an advantage of few months before the spotlight is taken over by the new iPad Mini.

Steve Jobs always claimed that there wasn’t any need for the production of a smaller iPad, so the original iPad Mini was a surprising launch on the market. However, its sales overcoming the original iPad were even a bigger surprise, as the market was clearly in demand for a smaller version of the Apple tablet.

Another assumption for the delay of the iPad Mini’s production is that the supply chain is not able to meet the schedule of mass production, which made the delay of iPad Mini’s launch inevitable.

Maybe the holidays have something to do with it

Although it is still not clear when the new versions of both tablets will be released, it’s becoming obvious that Apple is timing their launch to be around the holiday season. The new iPad 5 is expected in Q3, and a new iPhone will possibly hit the market around that period as well. With the iPad Mini expected in Q4, this change in Apple’s usual release cycles from the Steve Jobs era seems to have something with the holiday season.

According to the previous Apple pattern we were all used to, March or April was the time for a new iPad, June or July were reserved for an iPhone launch and September was the time of iPods. During the time of holidays, the excitement for new Apple devices on the market was already in the doldrums, so the manufacturer was clearly not taking all obvious advantages of the holiday focus. This is what makes us question the alternation of Apple’s cycle from a PR perspective.

However we put it, no one can deny that Apple is clearly giving us something to talk about and keep ourselves busy until the next launches; and nobody can predict their exact dates.

Stay tuned for more information

You could pick any month and say that Apple is going to launch their new iPad Mini then, and you will encourage new rumors in the same minute. Every rumor site is making assumptions and the public is being instantly attracted, simply because we are all anxiously waiting for Apple’s new releases. The only thing everyone agrees upon is that the iPad Mini 2 and the iPad 5 will be definitely released during this year. Half of 2013 is already gone and there isn’t much time left, so we can definitely say that the latest assumptions are slightly more accurate than the previous ones.

Nevertheless, we will definitely get more information on these fronts in the following month or two. The analysts are predicting some great surprises by Apple, and we can only say that the starved fans really need something surprising. Apple refuses to provide any comments on these rumors and speculations, which makes us even more eager to see what the giant brings to the table this time. All I can say is that I already know what I am getting for Christmas this year!

                                          

About the Author

Sasha Moran has a degree in Linguistics. She is a writer at

essay on time with a background in psychology, e-learning, and marketing.