With all of the rumors surrounding the possibility of a 7-inch iPad, a new report suggests that Apple is working on a totally new mobile product for 2013. The mysterious 5-inch device would feature a Retina display.
“According to a reliable Chinese source,” Japanese site Macotakara says the device will have a resolution of 1,600×960 or 1,280×960. LCD supplier contacts seem to think Apple is developing a 5-inch Retina display. Macotakara has a pretty shaky track record, so take this rumor with a gigantic grain of salt.
A 1024×768 iPad Mini has been the topic of much discussion lately, but the idea of a 5-inch device is new. Some have thought that Apple will make an iPhone with a larger 4-inch screen eventually, but 5 inches seems like an odd middle-ground. Developers would likely have to rewrite their apps entirely for a 5-inch device. Macotakara has no clue if it will be a phone or a tablet (phablet?).
There are plenty of reasons this rumor is likely a load of crap. The main thing to remember is that Apple is constantly prototyping different product variations and concepts. This 5-inch device could just be a prototype that will never see the light of day. We’re hoping that’s the case, anyway.
A Samsung executive recently said that Apple is planning to release a smaller iPad in the coming months, and rumors indicate that the device will likely ship close to the third quarter of this year. We’ll be on the lookout for any other news on a 5-inch device.
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
19 responses to “Apple Working On Totally New 5-Inch Retina Device For 2013 Debut [Rumor]”
What people don’t realize is that companies, tech or otherwise, that rely on intellectual property will always prototype many different products and even deliberately create something just to throw off competition. Just look at the auto industry, especially for higher-end vehicles.
Er … how can it be a retina device if we don’t know what kind of device it is and thus how far it’s going to be held away from our faces?
I say they are going to up-size the iPod Touch, not down-size the iPad.
iPod Touch doesn’t look like the iPhone any longer, so it makes a good mid-range. No LTE/3G, just wi-fi.
You can bet that there won’t be a stylus.
If I might add: And they will never see the light of day
I don’t believe this at all. I think able maybe will make a 7 inch version of the ipad but I highly doubt anything in the 5 inch range because it would be against steve jobs’ vision
my 11 yr old son is asking me weekly when he can get the new smaller iPad and it’s not even a confirmed product. I sincerely doubt apple would even consider a 5″ device when they are stirring up as much smoke and controversy as they are with the 7″ rumors. Not gonna happen.
a 5 inch bigger iPod touch is more likely than a 7 inch smaller iPad. Especially when you consider Jobs comments against a smaller iPad AND the uses a 5 inch Touch could fill. They could revamp the Remote app for the Apple TV, they could position it as a controller for games. It would also get the Touch out of the shadow of being just an iPhone that doesn’t make calls and perhaps give folks a reason to not just wait until they upgrade to a new iPhone and give the old one to their kids to use like an iPod Touch
Under those conditions I would think it more likely but still far from REALLY likely. I think the notion of the 7″ model would be a sweet spot mid point that would fill a “bigger ipod” niche as well as fill the e-book reader market. I couldn’t really imagine a 4th product variable in that line. A bigger ipod would be feasible but not probable with Apple’s product line paring of late.
Ahahahaha, that was funny.
someone say excessively large iPhone? 5″ is too small for a tablet form factor, personally, I just with the iPhone was a flat 4″ diagonal screen. 4.5″ at max.
*wish
If it’s anything then it will be an iPod Touch, but i teally think this is just a protoype, and may never see the light of day
This is starting to get ridiculous. People will write about anything. The worst part is, people are gullible enough to actually believe this rubbish as if it were going to come true. If you believe this, might as well believe that Apple will have a fully coated liquid metal iPhone 5.
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If anything, this is simply a protoype or perhaps the next iPod Touch to sort of bridge the gap between the iphone and ipad lines.
It doesn’t matter. The NEWS SELLS. That’s the only thing that matters. Later you can sell the same piece of news again when you “refute the rumors” with another article. Ka-ching!
Macotakara has a pretty shaky track record, so take this rumor with a gigantic grain of salt.
Whats the point of having a 5inch…. just stick to ipad and iphones IMO!
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