iPad mini 5 release date, specs rumors: New tablet not likely to be unveiled this week

A man looks at his Apple iPad in front an Apple logo outside an Apple store in downtown Shanghai March 16, 2012.Reuters/Aly Song

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will reportedly not be the only products Apple will unveil this week. According to the latest reports, the iPad mini 5 will also makes its big entrance on the company's keynote event on Sept. 7.

Its predecessor was released in September last year, which is a month early than usual. Until last year, Apple launched new iPad products during the month of October.

However, the Redmond-based company changed things up and reports say that it will do the same this year with the iPad mini 5 being unveiled days from now.

Besides, next month is reportedly saved for the new Mac-branded offerings namely a new iMac, and updates on both the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air as well as a 5K standalone display.

It is also to be noted that KGI Securities analyst Ming Chi-Kuo, who boasts an impressive track record when it comes to Apple's future plans, made no mention of an iPad mini.

He only said that the iPads on the way are the iPad Pro 2 and a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro. A "low cost" iPad with a 9.7-inch display will also be released. Kuo says that all these tablets won't be out until next year.

The lack of leak on the specs and spy shots or even prototypes of the device also has PC Advisor thinking that the iPad mini 5 might end up not being released this September after all.

This not only hints that a September launch is unlikely. It also suggests that the iPad mini 5 may see the light of day after a while, if not at all.

With the size of the display of iPhone Plus versions at 5.5-inch close to the iPad mini's 7.5 inch also shows the possibility that Apple will ditch the tablet itself especially with a 9.7-inch coming and a couple more iPad Pros.

Of course, it would not hurt checking out Apple's Sept. 7 event to see if the iPad mini 5 will make an appearance. Expected specifications include 3D Touch, improved processor and an 8MP camera.