iPad Mini 5 release date, specs rumors: smaller battery but more powerful processor in next iteration
It has been a full year since tech giant Apple released the iPad Mini 4, and speculations suggest that the new iPad Mini 5 will borrow a couple of specs from the iPhone 7 — such as its stronger processor — but will sacrifice its battery power for its new design.
The iPad Mini 5 was expected to be released last Sept. 7 along with the iPhone 7, but unfortunately the device was a no-show at the Apple event.
Though the iPad Mini 5 was nowhere to be seen during the unveiling of the latest generation of the Apple Watch and the iPhone 7, rumors are spreading that the device might be released sometime in 2017.
The new iPad Mini 5 is rumored to sport a thinner 5-mm design with a 7000-series aluminum chassis. As for the display, the device has been speculated to come out with a larger 9-inch retina display instead of a 7-inch display like its predecessors. The new design is also expected to ditch the physical home button for a touch sensitive home button just like the one on the iPhone 7.
Though Apple is said to create a slimmer iPad Mini, it is rumored to come with a cost. The new iPad Mini 5 will probably come with a battery whose capacity is lower than the iPad Mini 4's 5,124mAh battery. Moreover, to compensate for the smaller battery, the new iPad Mini is said to come with a stronger processor, an A10 processor similar to the one equipped in the iPhone 7.
Furthermore, the new device is said to come out of the box with iOS 10, along with 3 GB of RAM. The Apple is also speculated to drop the 16 GB variant for iPad Mini 5, the company is said to release a 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB variant instead.
Since the Apple iPad Mini 5 is rumored to borrow the iPhone 7's specs, a 3D touch panel can also be expected to come with the tablet, as well as the absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack.
As for the camera, the iPad Mini 5 is said to come with the same camera as its predecessor, which is an 8mp rear shooter and a 1.2mp front camera.
Though there is no official date yet for the iPad Mini 5's release, it is expected to come in March 2017 with a price tag of $450 USD for the 32 GB base model.
