Apple iPad Pro Mini could be announced alongside 10.5 inch model this year
If you are among those who still have hope that Apple will release a new Apple iPad Mini, you might just be in for a treat, although it might not come as soon as many hope.
According to sources, Apple is indeed working on a 7.9 inch iPad, although it’s not clear whether it will be a revamp of the iPad Mini 4, or rather a Mini version of the iPad Pro.
March seems to be common ground for many consumers hoping for an early announcement, however Apple has been delaying many of its upcoming product refreshes, citing shipment issues, which could mean that production of brand new lines of iPads could be pushed to May or even further, but not too close to the third quarter of 2017, since Apple is looking to begin production of a possible new MacBook Pro with unusually high-end specifications, at least according to KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Early concerns about Apple looking to end the iPad Mini lineage have circulated for a while, with no evidence of the contrary so far, which is just as much as we could say about the iPad Air. With that said, it’s more likely for Apple to rid of the iPad Air 2, than the iPad Mini, since the former would be in tune with what Apple has already done with the MacBook Air.
Apple seems to be very committed in releasing devices created to not only provide a better alternative to aging ones, but to literally bury their predecessors, under a pile of features and specs, high enough for consumers to see the value of upgrading.
The strategy is sound, as Apple has stopped updating many product lines that are now considered vastly inferior to the latest offerings, which includes the iPad Air 2, and the MacBook Air, well prior to announcing the 9.7 inch iPad Pro, incidentally the same size as the iPad Air 2, followed by the latest generation 13 inch MacBook Pro sans-Touch Bar, which is decidedly set to shove the MacBook Air into an early retirement.
With very little information about this new addition to the iPad family, which is predicted will be announced alongside a 10.5 inch iPad Pro, pricing is nothing but a guessing game, however it’s very possible that a slight premium to the current pricing for the iPad Mini 4 will apply.
Specs are also very unclear at this point, although Apple Pencil compatibility could be a reality, as well as quad speakers and 3D Touch.
Finally, rumor has it of an IP68 certification for this new device, which would make the new iPad Pro Mini, water-resistant.
While it might seem like wishful thinking, Apple has filed several patents in regard to waterproofing devices, including laptops.
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