Rumors had pointed an update to the iPad mini as early as last month, where Apple could announce it alongside the iPad Pros. However, the event came and went, but that doesn’t mean that Apple is giving up on its miniature tablet.
The iPad mini has not been updated on a regular basis recently. The last update to the mini was in March 2019. The update before that happened in September 2015, which was over three years. The iPad mini is on its fifth generation, and we could see the sixth generation as soon as this fall.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple has pushed production for its small tablet to the second half of 2021. He has expected the next mini to sport a larger 8.5-inch display. The current iPad mini has a 7.9-inch display. Ultimately, the mini will not feature a design overhaul that takes cues from the iPad Air and iPad Pro. It will still retain the Lightning port, Touch ID home button, and support for Apple Pencil (1st generation). A redesign would most likely bring the price up, so the low price for a tablet this size is always welcome. If anything, we should expect the iPad mini to feature at least the A14 chip from the iPad Air to bring the performance up to speed. I sure hope the next iPad mini will also feature colors similar to those on the iPad Air. Apple has been seemingly moving away from its traditional three metallic finishes.
As for the release date, we could see Apple announce it in September alongside the next generation full-size standard iPad as Apple has done in the past. What do you think about the future iPad mini? Let us know in the comments or tweet us at @Appleosophy.
