Apple is developing a thinner, lighter fifth-generation iPad sharing some design points with the recently released iPad Mini, a Japanese tech blog is reporting.

The Macotakara site also said Apple's next iPad Mini would feature the high-resolution Retina display many had expected on the first version, CNET reported Monday.

The rumored next full-size iPad is another case of the accelerated product life cycle Apple seems to be favoring; the fourth-generation model was released last month, just eight months after the third-generation iPad.

If the company sticks to its usual March launch period, that would see the newest version land just five months after the release of its predecessor.

The current iPad is 241.2 mm in height, 185.7 mm in width, and 9.4 mm in depth.

The next iPad could mimic the white and silver and black and slate design elements from the iPad Mini, which itself was based on the iPhone 5, CNET said.