The Apple iPad Mini 5 was not unveiled during this year's WWDC event, and neither was it unveiled during Apple's September event. Despite these snubs, fans still believe that the tablet has not been canceled and that it will launch in March next year.
According to MacWorld, the iPad Mini 5 will be rebranded as the iPad Pro Mini. It will serve as the Pro lineup's 7.9-inch model. Despite its small size, the tablet might be built to feature many, if not all, of the upgrades that fans expect from a product that will be potentially released next year.
Several speculated features of the iPad Mini 5 are a 7,000-series aluminum body, a larger keyboard, an improved A9X processor, and 3D Touch capabilities. The new aluminum body will make the product lighter and thinner compared to all previous models, without sacrificing durability. With the limited screen space, many speculate that the mini would feature a larger keyboard or one with better customization.
Game N Guide also points out that the iPad Mini 5 may come with an improved A9X processor and full 3D Touch capabilities. However, while the iPad Mini 5 is set to come with all of these new features, rumors suggest that it will not get rid of the traditional 3.5mm earphone jack in favor of the USB Type-C port.
The iPhone 7 now had this port, and it was received with controversy. While this alteration was embraced by some, the general consensus remains negative. Many find the new feature cumbersome to use because it requires one to own an adapter just to plug in their old earphones. It should be noted, however, that USB Type-C earphones and Bluetooth earphones are also available for purchase.
Apple has not confirmed nor denied any of these reports. There is no guarantee that the iPad Mini 5 would be released as the iPad Pro Mini. There is also no confirmation about the device's cancellation.
