Apple Expected to Launch New iPad Mini in the First Half of 2019

Apple is reportedly working on a new upgrade for the iPad Mini line. The company launched a major iPad Pro revamp just last year, and it’s looking to launch a new iPad Mini for those with a smaller budget.

Apple’s new iPad Mini, the new iPad Mini 5, will reportedly feature a similar design to the iPad Mini 4, according to Japanese blog Mac Otakara (via MacRumours). The blog reports that Apple is keeping the design of the new iPad Mini unchanged for this year, only moving the 3.5mm headphone jack to the top-center of the device to match the design on the recent iPad devices.

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Design wise, the rest of the iPad Mini is expected to remain the same, including the same 7.9-inch display. What’s more, Apple will likely stick to Touch ID instead of introducing Face ID like on the new iPad Pro. And lastly, it will also stick to the Lightning connector on the new iPad Mini 5 instead of switching to a Type-C connector as it did with the iPad Pro 2018.

All this considered, the iPad Mini 5 seems like it will be more about under the hood improvements.

The new device is expected to launch in the first half of 2019, according to DigiTimes. It’s possible Apple will launch the new device along with its much-awaited AirPower wireless charger and the next-gen AirPods.

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 13 comments

  • Orin

    12 February, 2019 - 6:43 am

    <p>Thanks for the information. Any word on Apple Pencil support on the new iPad Mini?</p>

  • Chris_Kez

    Premium Member
    12 February, 2019 - 7:14 am

    <p>Apple Pencil support is the big question. </p>

    • digiguy

      Premium Member
      12 February, 2019 - 7:35 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#404308">In reply to Chris_Kez:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yes, that's the make it or break it for me… I am perfectly fine with them keeping the same design and I am even ok with the rumors saying they are re-using the mini 2 fatter body with non laminated display to hit the $299 mark (as they did with the budget ipad and ipad air 1 body), but without the pencil I am sticking to the mini 4 and ipad pro I already have</p>

      • SvenJ

        12 February, 2019 - 8:37 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#404312"><em>In reply to digiguy:</em></a><em> </em>I'm with you, but not for the pencil necessarily. Something new; smaller bezels, FaceID, USB-C, something. Otherwise it's a mini 4 with an updated processor. Nice but not really something I imagine would be life changing day to day.</blockquote><p><br></p>

  • simont

    Premium Member
    12 February, 2019 - 8:55 am

    <p>Only A10 or A10X CPU but honestly for a mini, that's probably good enough</p>

    • mattbg

      Premium Member
      12 February, 2019 - 11:14 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#404332">In reply to simont:</a></em></blockquote><p>I wonder if they will do the same for iPod Touch – the same with a few internal updates – just to bring its internals to a supportable level for the next 3 years :)</p>

  • dstrauss

    12 February, 2019 - 9:01 am

    <p>"…only moving the 3.5mm headphone jack to the top-center of the device…" I realize this is not an Apple site, but all of the sources say they are moving the microphone to center top, not the headphone jack.</p><p><br></p><p>Like @Chris_Kez and @digiguy, pencil support is the make or break on this announcement. I don't expect Pencil 2 support, because this (with big brother non-pro iPad) will at best share Pencil 1 support, which will get the job done for those of us dying for an 8" moleskin replacement.</p>

  • locust infested orchard inc

    12 February, 2019 - 11:41 am

    <p>Once an iFad, always an iFad.</p>

    • red.radar

      Premium Member
      12 February, 2019 - 12:47 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#404364">In reply to locust infested orchard inc:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Funny statement for a product launched 10 years ago…. Didn't know Fads lasted that long. </p>

    • Greg Green

      13 February, 2019 - 6:13 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#404364">In reply to locust infested orchard inc:</a></em></blockquote><p>You’re lost and confused.</p>

  • red.radar

    Premium Member
    12 February, 2019 - 12:46 pm

    <p>I really liked the mini formfactor. This will probally be my next tablet purchase. </p>

  • evdo

    12 February, 2019 - 2:09 pm

    <p>I was holding out for the longest time for this, then caved and bought a new 10 in. iPad over the holidays. Can’t catch a break on timing. </p>

  • the_real_entheos

    12 February, 2019 - 5:02 pm

    <p>Almost nothing new and too late, people have moved on. My next tablet will be a Samsung as the actual apps are better and cheaper.</p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC