The next-generation iPad mini will sport the same design and functionality as previous models but come with a bumped up spec, according to journalist Steve Hemmerstoffer.
Hemmerstoffer, known for leaking news on technology products before they’re released, has reportedly received a new CAD rendering of the iPad mini 5, which is set to launch in Spring.
The leak suggests that the iPad mini 5 will include no major design changes compared with previous models, other than a relocated microphone, centered on the upper back panel.
The new model is set to be released in March, aimed at targeting customers who are looking for a low-cost tablet.
The new release will follow the same 7.9-inch display and will come with a Lightning connector, a 3.5mm headphone jack and Touch ID as standard.
Other reports have hinted that the new mini will offer support for the Apple Pencil and, for the first time, the Smart Keyboard, bringing the tablet in line with other iPad models and offering users more flexibility and control over their devices.
Indeed, Pencils and Keyboards retail for $99 and $199 respectively, so could offer Apple a serious upsell opportunity to those who prefer a smaller screen and want an iPad for everyday, on-the-go use around the office.
News that the iPad will look the same as previous models will no doubt disappoint some fans of the device, who hoped Apple would release a smaller device in the same style as the new iPad Pro, which sports Face ID, an edge-to-edge display and a USB-C port.
It’s likely, however, that the cost of implementing such features would have made the iPad mini simply too expensive, making it a niche product that Apple would struggle to market and sell.
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