Digitimes reports that Apple will soon begin trial production on its fifth-generation iPad, with full production said to be planned to begin in July. Based on that schedule, Apple could hit monthly production of 2-3 million units by September as it prepares to launch the updated version of its full-size tablet.

Mockup of iPad 5 next to iPad mini and iPhone 5As with a number of previous rumors, the report claims that the new iPad will be narrower, thinner, and lighter than the current design, taking a number of design cues from the iPad mini. As a result, Digitimes says that the new iPad will be 25-33% lighter than the current models, in line with previous claims from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.The display of the new iPad, which will hit market shelves as early as September, will still be a 2,048 x 1,536 Retina display, the same as the one used in the 4th-generation model, except that the new display is built on a glass substrate of 0.2mm, thinner than the 0.25mm one for the 4th-generation device, the sources said, adding the new table will has a narrow bezel.

The touch panel solution for 5th-generation iPad is GF2 (1 layer of glass and two layers of ITO film) instead of G/G bonding used in 4th-generation iPad, the sources added.

The new iPad will use one LED light bar for backlighting, compared to two LED light bars used in 4th-generation iPad, the sources noted.Kuo had previously predicted that production on the new iPad would ramp up in August or September, with shipments following soon thereafter.

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Read also:

Rumor: Production of Apple's 33% lighter fifth-gen iPad to begin in July (Apple Insider)

5th Gen iPad To Enter Production In July Ahead Of September Release (Cult of Mac)

Apple Will Begin Production Of A Lighter, Thinner iPad In July, Says DigiTimes (Business Insider)

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