iPad mini 5: Release Date and Price for Apple's New Miniaturized iPads

The first Apple product launch of the year could also be a bargain. For months there’s been chatter that the Cupertino-based company will release a follow-up to its iPad mini 4 early in 2019. Now, a new report has revealed what features to expect from the entry-level tablet.

The existing miniature iPad starts at $399 but hasn’t received an update since 2015. Shockingly, it’s now pricier than the 9.7-inch iPad that was launched earlier in 2018 with notably better specs. According to Japanese tech blog Mac Otakara, the upcoming iPad mini 5 will imbue the tablet with enough internal upgrades to close the gap while maintaining its signature sleekness (and, hopefully, its reasonable price tag.)

Here are all the latest details about what could be Apple’s first release in 2019.

iPad mini 5: Look and Feel

Citing a series of accessory makers, Mac Otakara’s report states the new Mini will retain its predecessor’s dimensions: 8 inches in height, 5.3 inches wide and 0.24 inches thick. Don’t expect it to come packing Face ID or USB-C charging like the 2018 iPad Pro: Both Touch ID and the Lightning charging standard are expected to remain on Apple’s smallest tablet. Fortunately for all of the dongle haters, the 3.5mm headphone jack is also expected to stay.

Mac Otakara didn’t go into detail about how slender the bezels on the iPad mini 5 could be. But based on the fact that it’ll use Touch ID, expect a relatively sizable bottom bezel for the home button.

iPad mini 5: What About Its Internals?

As it stands, the iPad mini 4 is three full generations behind Apple’s other 2018 product launches, at least in terms of the chipset. It comes with the A8 chipset, which was released with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in 2014. The iPad mini 5 will likely replace those with the A10 Fusion chips that launched with the iPhone 7.

That’s the same processor that is inside of the 9.7-inch iPads, so iPad mini 4 users will definitely be able to pick up on the speed improvements. Apps will likely open faster and swapping between programs will be snappier.

iPad mini 5: It’ll Probably Be Cheap

Most rumors so far indicate that the upcoming tablet’s rear microphone will be positioned on the top-middle of the back cover, just like the 9.7-inch iPad. The report claims that this could be a way for Apple to cut the cost of production by standardizing its iPad parts across multiple models.

Last year, Apple launched its 9.7-inch iPad for the same $329 price tag the previous model in the line went for. So it’s possible that the iPad mini 5 could also keep its $399 starting cost. That would make it substantially cheaper than many of the company’s premium tablets, which can soar up to $1,800 for a fully souped up model.

iPad mini 5: What About Apple Pencil Support

The iPad mini line has never been compatible with the Apple Pencil, and some are hopeful that could change this year. Unfortunately, Mac Otakara stated that the iPad mini 5 won’t be compatible with the Apple Pencil 2, which launched with the most recent iPad Pro. But it looks like first-generation Apple Pencil support is on the table.

This will provide some relief for designers that want to have light-weight, portable tablet to work with on the go.