Apple iPad as of now is already very thin. But the future iPads would be even thinner and much lighter than the present version of iPad.
Currently, the exact thickness of Apple iPad is 0.34 inhes. But the future iPad would be much thinner thanks to thinner and improved batteries manufactured by its supplier. According to Taiwan Economic News, the two suppliers of iPad and Macbook batteries namely – Dynapack International Technolog Corp. and Simplo Technology Co. are ready to supply the new thinner batteries to Apple by as early as last quarter of this year – that is Q4, 2011. The mass production of batteries could be expected to start from the very first quarter of next year – that Q1, 2012.
These new batteries will make product value of iPad much more than what it is today. These new batteries would make the new iPads to be thinner and with much more battery life. The new battery will also come at a price and Apple would have to pay 20-30% more than what it is currently paying to the suppliers. Nothing can be said about the cost of end product, as Apple can increase or keep the price same for iPads.