Will Apple’s iPad 5 Come Out In April?

According to the ever-churning Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) rumor mill, we could be looking at an iPad 5 as early as April. “We believe that looking at the history of time between Apple product launch events suggests that the company will introduce something new in March or April,” explained Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. “Over the past two years, the spring event has been iPad updates.”

Apple has yet to release any official statements on the matter, but reports predict that the iPad 5 will have a body design similar to the iPad mini and an upgraded Retina display. There may also be a wider variety of new color options. The rumored new casing could be supported by leaked photos obtained by 9 to 5 Mac.

Android-powered competitors have gained a bit of momentum in recent months, but Apple still holds an impressive 43 percent share of the tablet market. The tech company already released a beefed-up 128 GB version of the fourth-generation iPad with Retina display on February 5 for $799 (Wi-Fi) or $929 (Wi-Fi plus cellular). This February release has led some to speculate that there will not be a new release until the fall. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also predicts a Q3 launch.