What to expect from the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2

Apple has confirmed that it will hold another of its spangly hardware launch events on October 22nd. The focus of this event will undoubtedly be the company's new iPad range.

We're expecting to see Tim Cook unveil not one but two new Apple tablets this year. And both should contain some considerable improvements.

Most commentators are referring to The Big A's next-gen tabs as the 'iPad 5' and the 'iPad mini 2', though these probably won't end up being the official names.

As ever, the internet has proven to be a veritable breeding ground for dozens of iPad-related rumours, tips, leaks, and speculation.

We thought we'd sift through them all and pick out the most likely and most exciting new iPad features - all viewed through the lens of a hardened pocket gamer, of course.

The new full-sized Apple tablet will reportedly mark the biggest design change for the range since the iPad 2, yet it will also be extremely familiar.

You see, Apple will abandon the somewhat square appearance of the range to date for its new iPad. Instead, the iPad 5 will allegedly resemble an 'upscaled' version of the iPad mini. Like Apple's 7.9-inch tablet, the iPad 5 will be significantly slimmer and lighter than the chubby iPad with Retina display (a.k.a. iPad 4).

Also in common with the iPad mini, the iPad 5 will be a fair bit narrower than previous full-sized iPads. Not in terms of the screen, you understand - that will likely be the same 9.7-inch 4:3 Retina display as the one on the iPad 4 and iPad 3 (albeit much thinner).

Rather, the side bezels will be much thinner than before. We're also expecting to see the introduction of similar colour options to the iPhone 5S for the iPad 5. So, yes, space grey, silver, and - quite possibly - gold.

We know all this, incidentally, because the iPad 5's external shell has been leaked from Apple's Asian supply chain on numerous occasions in recent months. The image above, provided by Australian blogger Sonny Dickson, is just one such example.

We have a good idea how the iPad 5 will look, then, but right now the internals are more of a mystery. Still, we can build a pretty convincing picture.

It's a very safe bet that the iPad 5 will be powered by a modified version of the iPhone 5S's A7 processor. Apple made much of its "forward-thinking" move into 64-bit mobile computing at the launch of its latest flagship phone, so anything less for its flagship tablet would be unthinkable.

Besides, every iPad to date has taken its processing lead from the latest-gen iPhone. If we look at the iPad 4, it had a modified version of the iPhone 5's A6 processor (called the "A6X") under its hood. We're expecting to see a "A7X" mentioned at next week's presentation, basically.

Another marquee iPhone 5S element quite likely to surface on the iPad 5 is the trailblazing Touch ID fingerprint scanner. Yep, you'll be using your pinky to purchase The Room 2, we suspect.

Other stuff? Oh, probably an improved 8-megapixel camera. But you don't care about that, do you? After all, you're not one of those doofuses who takes pictures with her tablet, are you? ARE YOU?

The iPad mini 2 has been the subject of much heated debate from those who set the internet rumour agenda.

Put simply, tech analysts have been wholly unable to agree on whether Apple's second-gen mini-tablet will feature a Retina display.

This is a big deal. The Big A has now equipped its entire iOS range with eyeball-massaging Retina displays, which basically means you can't discern individual pixels on a current iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

All except the iPad mini, that is. Even at its largely well-received launch last year, many grumbled at the fact that Apple was stubbornly sticking to its iPad 2-era screen tech here.

It seems as if Apple wants to take this next logical step with the iPad mini 2, though. Saying that, numerous industry insiders have suggested that the Cupertino-based company is having trouble getting its hands on enough 7.9-inch Retina display units in time for the iPad mini 2's likely November or December launch.

Expect the resulting iPad mini 2 to be ever-so-slightly thicker than its predecessor to accommodate the new high-res display.

At least it'll come in a range of sharp new colours - quite possibly the now-familiar space grey, silver, and gold. You can see a leaked space grey rear panel, as provided by French website Nowhereelse.fr, above.

Somewhat surprisingly, early reports seem to indicate that the iPad mini 2 will be powered by the same A7 processor that powers the iPhone 5S. We say 'surprisingly' because the original iPad mini had an A5 chip that was already a generation behind the curve under its hood (evidently in a bid to keep its price down).

With a stonking A7 processor allied to a probable Retina display on its iPad mini 2, Apple would be offering a compelling upgrade to its customer base - particularly if the price of this new iPad mini is the same as the original iPad mini's.

In order to do this, we suspect that Apple may need to omit the Touch ID technology of the iPhone 5S from the iPad mini 2. And you perhaps shouldn't expect a vastly improved camera on this new mini-tab, either. We might be wrong on both counts, of course.

The important thing to remember is that both of Apple's next-generation tablets should be superb gaming devices.

They'll be slim and light enough to wield for long periods, and they should be as powerful as an entry-level desktop computer and have super-sharp screens to match.

If you can get your hands on one at launch, of course.