A lighter, fifth-generation iPad is expected to launch this autumn, Taiwanese blog Digitimes.com reported today. Analysts have been claiming that the next 9.7-inch iPad would adopt the same form factor as the iPad Mini. Digitimes' supply chain contacts have confirmed these details and claim that battery life has been improved and that the device will also be lighter because it will be using one LED backlight instead of two for display illumination.

The same sources claim that the device is already at the pilot production stage.

Regarding the the second-generation iPad Mini, Apple is rumored to still thinking of its final specifications, as the company has yet to decide whether to ship the device with an HD Retina display.