The release of the iPad Mini 5 has been long overdue as no announcement was made on Apple Inc.'s September 7 event. The previous version of the Mini was announced in September 2015, with updated specs and new features, making it one of the best 8-inch tablets available on the market at that time. However, no announcement for a newer version was made, which makes Apple fans anticipate more.
According to Macworld, they have conducted research and gathered evidence about anything and everything they can about the iPad Mini 5. Rumors gathered included features, specs and possible price in the U.K. Since no announcement has been made on the September event, rumors suggest that the new iPad Mini 5 will be unveiled on the forthcoming Apple event on March 2017, which is about the same time frame when the iPad Pro was released.
Speculations about the next generation device is that it will be similar to the iPad Pro, and could even be named iPad Pro Mini. 3D Touch pressure sensitive panel, like the ones on the iPhones, will be featured, and a chassis made of 7000-series aluminum to render a thinner and lighter unibody. This would be the same material that was used in the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus.
Like the iPad Pro, the iPad Mini 5 may get a smart connector, which will allow the device to connect to its own smart keyboard and to other powered accessories. The Mini may also be packed with an enhanced variant of the A9 processor supported by 2 GB of RAM, and a 32GB starting capacity for storage. A 64 GB and 128 GB storage options are also highly possible if the next generation does move to the Pro lineup.
An 8 MP rear camera and at least 1.2 MP front shooter are also expected for the new iPad Mini 5. Additional wishlists by Apple fans include no headphone ports, Qualcomm's Quick Charge technology, a microSD card slot, waterproofing, and a pink option. The new iPad Mini 5 will surely pack a punch as it moves to being not just a Mini, but also a smaller, lighter, and a more robust tablet, much like the iPad Pro.
