Tech

iPad Mini 5 Specs, Release Date, Rumors: Next Gen Apple Tablet To Be Released In September?

Megha Kedia
First Posted: Jun 07, 2016 06:00 AM EDT

While Apple has not confirmed anything about the existence of the next gen iPad mini, rumors about a new iPad Mini, possibly dubbed the iPad Mini 5, already started making rounds. As Apple refreshes its iPad mini line-up every year, fans are expecting that the Cupertino might roll out the iPad Mini 5 this year as well. The iPad Mini 4 was launched last year in September, and the Mini 3 was launched in October 2014.

According to reports, the Apple iPad mini 5 is likely to get the same familiar look as its predecessor, the iPad mini 4, with the same 7.9in Retina display. However, the tablet is rumored to get an improved exterior deploying a 7000-series aluminum chassis. It's also rumored to be slimmer than its predecessor at 5mm thickness.

The iPad mini 5 is rumored to pack the A9 processor, which will improve on the A8 processor on the predecessor, as well as an M9 motion co-processor. The chipset is expected to improve the overall performance of the upcoming tablet as well as its battery life.

The iPhone maker is expected to introduce 3D Touch, which is already present on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, in the iPad mini line this year. Another upgrade on the device is its alleged own Apple Pencil, like the one on the iPad Pro.

Talking about the camera, the new iPad mini is expected to feature an 8Mp camera at the rear and 1.2Mp at the front same as its predecessor. Rumors are that the upcoming the iPad Mini 5 will run the iOS 10.

There are even reports which suggest that the iPad mini 5 will get a smaller battery than its predecessor, as well as support for a Smart Connector port. The upcoming tablet could also ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of a D-jack.

The Cupertino is expected to follow the 2015 pricing model for its upcoming mini tablet, which means the 16 GB variant will start at $399. The company is also expected to add a Rose Gold option to the lineup of Gold, Space Gray and Silver.

As far as the iPad Mini 5 release date is concerned, the tablet is expected to get unveiled alongside Apple's upcoming iPhone iteration, the iPhone 7, sometime in September.

Are you excited about Apple iPad Mini 5 release? Let us know in comments below.

See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone

More on SCIENCEwr