New generation iPad expected to be launched in March 2013

Although the iPad Mini is still fresh off the Apple’s table and yet reports of a new generation iPad are already circulating on Japanese tech blog Macotakara.

Rumor has it Apple plans to launch a fifth generation tablet in March 2013, in keeping with its yearly Spring releases of previous models.

But with the recent debut in November of the Mini, another model so soon is unexpected and will have technology fans wondering what new features it could possibly offer.

According to Macotakara‘s inside source the new iPad, will look like the iPad Mini in design and detail and the dimensions of a slightly smaller iPad 2.

Deciphering the claim that “the expectation [of the new iPad] comes to have a small 4mm in height, 17mm in width, depth 2mm”, would point to a reduction in size of the original iPad by these dimensions suggests 9to5mac.com.

The current iPad measures 9.50 in (241.2 mm) by 7.31in (185.7 mm) by 0.37 in (9.4 mm) and so according to the reports, the new one would be almost as thin as the iPad Mini at around 0.3 in (7 mm).

There are currently three models of iPad and five generations.

The first iPad, the iPad 2 and the iPad Retina display all measure the same. Apple released a faster version of the iPad Retina (also known to many as the iPad 3) this past March and some people refer to this as the iPad 4.

Following hot on the heels of the iPad 4 launch was the introduction of the Mini measuring a sleek 7.87 in (200 mm) in height, 5.3 in (134.7 mm) in width and 0.28 in (7.2 mm) in depth.

And blogs are also whispering about plans for a new iPad Mini already in the works.

The new model, according to Macotakara, would feature the Retina display with the same resolution as the third and fourth generation iPads.

These theories have been backed up by Digitimes and come from a source known for its accuracy regarding insider information about Apple products.

If they do prove to be true, it would suggest that Apple is stepping up its game and keeping ahead of the curve within the world of tablets.