Rumour: iPhone 5 to be 8mm longer, iPad 3 to be 0.7mm thicker

One of iLounge's "most reliable" sources has informed the website that the new entries in Apple's iPhone and iPad lines will come sporting new looks.

For starters, the iPad 3 is purported to be 0.7mm thicker (yes, thicker) than its predecessor, which is due to a new twin light bar system that powers the tablet's long rumoured higher-resolution display.

According to the website's source, the third-generation iPad is currently on course for a March launch, and could be shown off on stage some time in January. The latter depends on "conditions".

Moving on to the iPhone, it looks like Apple's smaller iOS gadget might not feature that familiar teardrop shape that has been circulating the web for quite some time.

iLounge has been told that the new iPhone will feature a metal (aluminium) casing, and a four-inch display. These changes will leave the new model a full 8mm longer than the iPhone 4/4S.

The iPhone 5 is apparently still in its engineering phase, but is on track to hit store shelves next summer.