Apple is anticipated to refresh its 7.9-inch tablet — the much-loved iPad mini — in 2017. The successor of the iPad mini 4 — which released in 2015 — is said to be in the works and is poised to bring many exciting features iFans' way.
Rumors are rife that Apple will not give the moniker iPad mini 5 to the next-gen tablet, but instead rebrand is as the iPad Pro mini. The device will be the entry-level option in the company's iPad Pro lineup.
Considering Apple has not refreshed the iPad mini since 2015, loyalists would be hoping that the iPad Pro mini will up the ante and bring a slew of top-notch features users' way.
We round up all the rumors and leaks pertaining to the iPad Pro mini and clue you in on the purported tablet's alleged specs, features, possible release date and price.
Design And Specs
The iPad Pro mini will reportedly sport a 7.9-inch retina display like the iPad mini 4. The device, however, will have a 7000-series aluminum chassis, which will make the tablet sturdier and more durable in comparison to the older-gen model.
Apple is also anticipated to make the iPad Pro mini thinner and lighter than the iPad mini 4. The iPad Pro mini/iPad mini 5 will be 5mm thick, or 1mm lesser than the 2015 model of the 7.9-inch tablet.
Under the hood, the tablet could house an A9 or A10 processor and an M9 co-processor, which offers support for motion tracking.
The tablet is also anticipated to house 3 GB of RAM, and Apple could stick to the 8-megapixel primary camera and a 1.2-megapixel FaceTime camera.
The iPad Pro mini is also rumored to house a smaller battery and will come in 32 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB storage options per reports. It will possibly come with iOS 10.1.1 or later but not iOS 11.
Features
The iPad Pro mini is also expected to offer support for the 3D Touch technology, which was introduced with the iPhone 6s in 2015. The device's camera could take a cue from the company's newer smartphone and offer support for Live Photos as well. Moreover, Apple could also introduce a dual-camera setup on the device like it did for the iPhone 7 Plus to entice consumers.
The iPad mini 5 or iPad Pro mini is also rumored to offer support for a Smart Connector port. The tablet could also be waterproof and boast an IP68 certification. Considering the iPad Pro lineup offers support for a stylus, i.e. the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro mini could also come equipped with the same.
The upcoming tablet may also have a D-jack instead of the 3.5mm headphone jack, just like the iPhone 7.
Price
The tablet's pricing will likely be a tad higher than in the past if the iPad Pro mini offers support for the Apple Pencil. However, Apple may choose to stick to the old price pattern, which suggests that the tablet could start at $399 for the 32 GB variant. The iPad Pro mini may also include Rose Gold, Glossy Black and Jet Black options in addition to the traditional Silver, Gold and Space Gray hues.
Release
The iPad Pro mini is anticipated to debut in March 2017 and could arrive alongside the iPad Pro 2 and possibly the iMac 2017.
