iPad Mini 5 release date news, rumors: Device to roll out alongside iPad Pro 2

The iPad Mini 5's predecessor, the iPad Mini 4Apple.com

The iPad Mini 5 is one tablet that has been highly-awaited by Apple fans, especially since it has been more than a year (13 months) since its predecessor — the iPad Mini 4 — was released. Though there is still no definitive date as to when the Apple tablet will be released, rumors suggest that it will come to the market at the same time as the iPad Pro 2.

Speculations suggest that the iPad Mini 5 and the iPad Pro 2 might be released sometime in 2017 because tech giant Apple might be prioritizing the release of its upcoming laptop, the MacBook Pro 2016.

Despite the lack of information on the upcoming iPad Mini 5's official release date, many rumors are still spreading around the internet about the new Apple tablet's specs and features.

For one, speculations suggest that the new iPad Mini 5 will come out to the market sporting a new 3D touch function. The device is also expected to come out of the box running on the latest Apple operating system — the iOS 10 — or the new iOS 11 that will also be released sometime in 2017.

The new Apple iPad Mini 5 is also rumored to come in three variants sporting different display sizes. The smallest variant would have a 9.7-inch display, followed by a medium sized 10.1-inch display, and a larger 12.9-inch display, all of which are said to come with 8 GB of RAM powered by Apple's latest A10 chipset.

Furthermore, the Apple's new tablet is said to come out with varying internal storage capacities ranging from 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB.

What's more is that the new iPad Mini 5 is speculated to come out with an 8-megapixel rear camera coupled with a 1.2-megapixel front facing camera equipped with True Tone Flash technology that will allow for higher quality videos and photos.

As for the tablet's overall design, it is said to come out with a slimmer 7000-series aluminum chassis body, a speculated feature that paves the way for rumors that the new iPad Mini 5 might follow the iPhone 7's footsteps in ditching the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The iPad Mini 5 is expected to come to the market sometime in 2017 with a price tag ranging from $364 USD to $729 USD.