Apple is expected to unveil new devices in 2019 and based on recent reports, one of them will be the iPad Mini 5. Coming out alongside it is an entry-level iPad which should raise interest for folks in search of a reliable tablet but are on a budget.
Word of the coming of the iPad Mini 5 comes from Mac Otakara who says that the alleged iPad Mini 5 will be making its way out in the open by the first half of 2019. The move is seen as a plan by the Cupertino company who hopes to arrest the declining sales for their iPad line. Mass production for it will reportedly start this month.
The last time Apple released its smallest iPad was way back in 2015. Through the years, there were no updates on the said tablet and the selling price, $399 (128 GB model), remained the same. All that could change in the following months once the newer model hits the market.
The impending coming of the iPad Mini 5 also vindicates the claim made by renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that Apple was working on a new version of the iPad. He bared that the new tablet will come with a higher processor but with a low-cost display panel.
After Ming's claim, there were critics who felt that Apple had forgotten about the iPad Mini line and that the device would be joining other shelved Apple products. Apparently, this latest bit scoffs all that and is likely to spur new interest for Apple loyalists.
Equally interesting is the alleged entry-level iPad. There will be allegedly two versions coming in 2019, something that will likely be offered to schools and businesses who are in need of a tablet that doesn't cost heftily. According to Mac Rumors, these new tablets will replace the sixth-generation 9.7-inch iPad and sport a slightly larger 10-inch display with a narrower frame.
Taking a look at the 9.7-inch model, it is noticeably thick and heavier. It offers few features compared to the iPad Pro models but does come with Apple Pencil support. The selling price for this one starts at $329.
Hence, it becomes a bit interesting what features this entry-level tablet will have to offer. As far as the screen, it is likely to come with an LCD display to reduce production cost. As of this writing, other potential specs remain scarce although rumors are bound to ramp up once 2019 is here.
