When Apple released the 9.7 inch version of the iPad Pro, the going theory was that Apple would eventually axe the iPad Air product line, and move forward with the Pro, or at least with a new *just* iPad concept with reduced specs, and a more attainable price tag.
Pro versus Air 2
The 9.7 inch iPad Pro is currently priced $599, at its base configuration, the first key differences from the iPad Air 2, is a faster CPU. The A9X is in every way an improvement over its predecessor. According to Geekbench, the A9X CPU is twice as fast as the A8X, and features more than twice the memory handling performance.
The Pro also comes with more storage options, LOTS more. The Air 2’s 16GB and 64GB options, pale in comparison to the Pro’s 32GB, 128GB, and 256GB available storage sizes.
Is taking pictures with an iPad still making an embarrassing meme? Not according to Apple, who decided the Pro version of its flagship tablet is worthy of receiving some substantial improvements for both its iSight Camera, now featuring a 12MP sensor, and it’s FaceTime Camera, capable of taking 5MP images. By comparison, the iPad Air 2 features an 8MP iSight Camera, and a 1.2MP FaceTime Camera.
The sound system on both models of the iPad Pro relies on four speakers that are capable of dynamically switching audio channels, depending on the orientation and position of the device, which makes the Pro an amazing portable entertainment system.
The Pro also features a wider color selection, including Silver, Gold, Space Gray and Rose Gold. This palette is quickly spreading across all Apple devices, including Macs, as we have witnessed with the last revamp of the 2015 MacBook Retina, which now features a Rose Gold option.
Finally, Apple Pencil support is what makes the iPad Pro really stand out. By this token, Apple is, at least on paper, putting considerable resources into expanding Pencil support across more devices, including Macs.
The next iPad Mini... will it go Pro?
The Apple iPad Mini is kind of a wild card. Priced at $399, which is the same as the current iPad Air 2, the fourth iteration of this tiny device features specs that are indeed pretty decent. While the A8 CPU is slower than both the iPad Air and the iPad Pro, storage options bridge the gap across the two, by providing 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB storage sizes, suitable for an audience that is somewhere in between the two larger tablets.
What’s curious is that even if the iPad Mini’s pixel resolution is identical to the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Pro 9.7 inches, the pixel density is higher than both, at 362ppi. Compared to the iPad Pro and the iPad Air, these two feature only 264ppi. Other than that, the iPad Mini features the same iSight and FaceTime camera as the iPad Air 2, the same 2-speaker audio, and the same range of colors.
The question here is on whether it will be worth it for Apple to invest in producing a Pro version of the iPad Mini, or rather just an improved iPad Mini 5.
In the former scenario, an iPad Mini Pro with Apple Pencil support would most likely be priced at the very least $100 short of the current 9.7 inch iPad Pro, and inherit at least some of the properties that make the iPad Pro a “Pro” item, including the 4-speaker audio, an expanded range of finishes, as well as better camera sensors, not to mention the possibility for a 256GB storage option as well, with a likely price tag of $499.
With that said, there will always be those who may be interested in a more advanced iPad Mini, but aren’t willing to fork over an extra hundred for Pencil support, or 4-speaker audio, which is why it’s very possible that the iPad Mini 5 will happen. By this assumption, it’s not hard to imagine an iPad Mini 5 with somewhat expanded storage, and perhaps even an A8X or A9X CPU, with a similar pixel density.