Many of us thought the iPad mini was dead and buried, but new rumors from China tell us quite the opposite. According to this information, Apple is preparing a new generation for 2019, along with a 10-inch "entry-level" version. Here's everything we know.
iPad mini, a forgotten model?
The iPad mini has n't been updated since 2015. That's when Apple introduced a fourth-generation version of the device, and it never received another update. However, this could change next year, according to the China Times.
This Asian medium ensures that Apple's iPad mini will finally receive its well-deserved update next year, thus partly clearing up the theories of all of us who believe that this model is doomed to disappear.
The evolution of its iPad siblings (each one thinner, lighter, and with a wider range of prices) suggests that the mini model was becoming outdated, and that Apple no longer felt it was worthwhile to update it. The fact that it hasn't been updated in three years certainly doesn't help to change this perception.
This information would align with what analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said , claiming that an iPad mini 5 would arrive at the end of this year or the beginning of next year. There is no information, however, on what changes it would introduce, beyond the typical technical modifications to the processor or storage capacity (we assume).
A new basic iPad
As for the "entry-level" iPad , we're talking about a replacement for the current basic iPad in the company's lineup. It's priced at €349 and was updated this year with a new processor and support for the Apple Pencil, the digital stylus for the iPad Pro.
In 2019, the change is expected to be much greater, starting with the screen, which would increase from the current 9,7 inches to a 10-inch size . It would also feature a more "modern" design, presumably following the design language of the current iPad Pro with thinner bezels, among other details.
We will have to wait to see new clues to be somewhat more sure about the existence of these new iPads. It is true that a renewal of the basic iPad was more to be expected (Apple takes more care of this model), but the iPad mini is currently so stagnant that it is hard to believe that 2019 is the year of its renewal. We will see.