Apple's iPad mini 5 may come with little to no design changes, but raw power will be improved
Almost three and a half years after releasing the iPad mini 4, Apple is reportedly preparing to unveil a new diminutive tablet, possibly alongside a 10-inch or so direct sequel for 2018’s sixth-generation “standard” iPad with a 9.7-inch screen.
But proving the market has evolved at a snail’s pace since 2015, the iPad mini 5 is expected to “follow the design” of its ancient forerunner, according to information collected from “several accessories makers” by Japanese blog Macotakara.
These typically reliable sources claim everything from the Touch ID fingerprint sensor to the Lightning port and 3.5 mm headphone jack of the iPad mini 4 will be retained, as well as the general design language and, presumably, the overall dimensions and massive bezels.
So much for your hopes of seeing the modern “all screen” aesthetic, Face ID technology, and USB Type-C connectivity of the latest iPad Pro generation expanded to the entire family of iOS slates.
Of course, facial recognition integration and razor-thin bezels would have significantly increased the production costs of the impending iPad mini 5, so perhaps this is all for the best.
While it’s unclear exactly what price point Apple is targeting with its refreshed 7.9-incher, it will probably have to start significantly lower than the $329 tag of the 9.7-inch iPad (2018). Keep in mind that the iPad mini 4 is still available at the time of this writing, fetching $399 with 128GB storage space.
The outdated A8 processor is likely to be replaced with an Apple A10 or A10X inside the new iPad mini generation, so even though you may not be able to notice any changes at a glance, a substantial upgrade in power is in the pipeline.
The Apple A10X is the same chip used on the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and second 12.9-inch generation, while the 2018 iPad 9.7 packs a “regular” A10 SoC.
But proving the market has evolved at a snail’s pace since 2015, the iPad mini 5 is expected to “follow the design” of its ancient forerunner, according to information collected from “several accessories makers” by Japanese blog Macotakara.
Of course, facial recognition integration and razor-thin bezels would have significantly increased the production costs of the impending iPad mini 5, so perhaps this is all for the best.
While it’s unclear exactly what price point Apple is targeting with its refreshed 7.9-incher, it will probably have to start significantly lower than the $329 tag of the 9.7-inch iPad (2018). Keep in mind that the iPad mini 4 is still available at the time of this writing, fetching $399 with 128GB storage space.
The Apple A10X is the same chip used on the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and second 12.9-inch generation, while the 2018 iPad 9.7 packs a “regular” A10 SoC.
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