The next generation iPad mini will have a larger display and a design inspired by the iPad Air 2019, according to a new report.
Japanese site Mac Otakara reports that the 6th generation iPad mini will debut in March 2021, citing sources in China’s Apple supply chain.
The new iPad mini will have a larger screen of 8.4 inches, rather than the 7.9-inch screen of previous models. It is expected to keep Touch ID and a Lightning port in traditional locations, but could have a narrower frame than the 2019 iPad Air 3.
This reflects another recent report from Mac Otakara that the 9th generation iPad model would be inspired by the iPad Air 2019, but otherwise it would present some major design changes.
Thus, this is not the first time that a change in the screen size for the iPad mini has been rumored. The well-connected analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, predicted in 2020 that Apple will launch an iPad mini in the first half of 2021 with a display between 8.5 and 9 inches.
The current iPad mini 5 model was launched in March 2019, with few changes from the last iteration beyond an A12 Bionic processor and Apple Pencil support. Although unchanged, the iPad mini 5 was the first refresh of Apple’s device since 2015.