Along with recent rumors of a foldable iPhone launching in 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also revealed that the sixth generation of Apple’s small form factor iPad—the iPad mini, is slated to be released in the second half of this year.
Kuo stated that iPad sales have been growing recently due to global changes and that another iteration of the iPad mini to Apple’s lineup is expected to further grow the iPad segment. Previous rumors indicated that the iPad mini would be debuted in the first half of this year, however, it was missing from Apple’s Spring Loaded event and it seems that the launch has been delayed to the second half of 2021 due to possible supply constraints caused by chip and semiconductor shortages.
Customers expecting a complete redesign of the iPad mini similar to the treatment of the iPad Air and iPad Pro lines will be disappointed. The sixth-generation iPad mini is expected to have a larger display at 8.4 inches and feature slimmer bezels, but will continue to possess the same thick top and bottom bezels, a Touch ID home button, and the Lightning port as opposed to USB-C.
Apple is also supposedly working on a version of the iPad mini that would utilize a mini-LED display, as seen in the newly released 12.9 inch iPad Pro. Mini-LED displays allow for brighter images, deeper blacks, as well as improved contrast and HDR.
There isn’t too much information surrounding the new iPad mini at the moment, but we expect more details to release later this year. Nonetheless, we’re sure it will be a great addition to Apple’s existing tablet lineup.