“iPad 5” rumor suggests new form factor similar to iPad mini

It's that time of year again: rumors about the next-gen iPhone and iPad(s) are beginning to pick up. iLounge claims to have details on what's being referred to as the "iPad 5" and "iPhone 5S," as well as the second-generation iPad mini. All devices are expected to be introduced in the second half of the year—iPhone 5S around July, and iPad(s) in October—and the full-size iPad is expected to go through some serious design changes to closer resemble the iPad mini.

In its first report on Friday, iLounge said the iPad 5 would be "a lot smaller than one would guess was possible" thanks to the near-elimination of the left and right bezels around the 9.7" screen. iLounge editor-in-chief Jeremy Horwitz claims to have personally seen a physical model of this iPad, noting that it's thinner and "smaller in every dimension than its predecessors."

The iPhone 5S information comes from sources: the device reportedly looks like an iPhone 5 (surprise, surprise) with a "larger rear flash." In his second report, he added that the iPhone 5S is also expected to come with an improved camera, "perhaps featuring Sony’s 13-Megapixel sensor." As for the iPad mini, Horwitz only claims to know its code name ("J85") and its October release date. The sources assume—like the rest of us—that the device will come with a retina display, but further information is lacking in the mini department.

So far, these rumors aren't hugely radical, though the idea that Apple might redesign the look of the full-sized iPad is a fairly new one. One of the arguments for the lack of bezels in the iPad mini is the ability to hold the device with a thumb on one side and fingers wrapped around the back (as seen above)—most users can't do this with a 9.7" iPad, the width of which is compounded by the device's added weight. But perhaps there are other usability reasons to get rid of the left and right bezels—if Apple manages to cut down on the footprint and thickness of the device, it could be more appealing to use when compared against the portability of the iPad mini.