The iPad mini 3 is a brilliant tablet, but in terms of updates it was a bit of a dud, with just the fingerprint sensor and the gold colour option differentiating it from its predecessor, the iPad mini 2. That's why we think the iPad mini 4 could be a good 'un, with an impressive update that helps us forget all about our iPad mini 3 disappointment. Here's our round-up of all of the latest iPad mini 4 release date, specs & features rumours.
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iPad mini 4 release date: When is the new iPad mini coming out?First things first, let's explore the potential release date for Apple's next 7.9in iPad. Looking back at Apple's release history for the iPad mini, we can see that it has stuck to the same pattern since it first launched in November 2012 after an October unveiling.
iPad mini: Unveiled 23 October released 2 November 2012iPad mini 2: Unveiled 22 October, released 12 November 2013iPad mini 3: Unveiled 16 October, released 24 October 2014
So it's for that reason that we expect an October unveiling for the iPad mini 4, followed by its release a week or two later.
Ahead of Apple's 9 March event, during which it finalised Apple Watch details and showed off an all-new super-slim MacBook, rumours suggested that we might see an iPad Pro launch at the event (and therefore, if rumours were to believed, an iPad mini 4 would also debut), but the event came and went with no mention of new iPads.
WWDC 2015 has also come and gone, where many thought that alongside our first glimpse at iOS 9 and the next version of OS X, we might see the announcement of the iPad mini 4.
It's actually possible that Apple will decide not to release a new iPad mini this year, though. The iPhone 6 Plus is Apple's first foray into the 'Phablet' market, with a 5.5in screen, which brings it much closer to the size of the iPad mini, which has a 7.9in display. There's bound to be some cannibalisation there, and it's possible that the reason for the disappointing iPad mini 3 update was to keep the attention focused on Apple's new iPhones rather than the mini iPad.
Japanese speaking Macotakara speculates about the release of the iPad mini 4, which it claims will be launched alongside the iPad Air 3 and the much-rumoured iPad Pro. The iPad Air 3 will reportedly be very similar in terms of design to the iPad Air 2, but will host Apple's latest (and yet unreleased) A9 processor.
Macotakara is usually a reliable source of Apple leaks, and while we won't dispute its design leaks (see below), we don't believe that Apple will release three new tablets in 2015. Why? Even though Apple may want to try and recover from its worst year for iPad sales since its launch, there isn't much evidence pointing towards a simultaneous launch this year.
Also, with rumours pointing towards the possibility of the iPad mini being announced at the iPhone event pegged for September, Apple won't have enough time to announce the next generation iPhone, iOS 9, watchOS 2, a new iPad mini, iPad Air and an iPad Pro at a single event. So, when is the iPad mini 4 going to be announced? We're looking at either a September or October event, in our opinion.
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iPad mini 4 rumours: Design, specs & featuresBack in November 2014, Japanese magazine Mac Fan suggested that the iPad mini 4 would boast the iPad Air 2's A8X processor, as well as a thinner design that is more reminiscent of the latest iPad Air.
Rumours that arrived a bit later on, in March 2015, suggested that the iPad mini 4 might actually come equipped with the A9 processor, expected to launch with new iPhones that are coming in September. (See: iPhone 6S rumours).
That same rumours said the iPad mini 4 will come with 2GB RAM, 802.11ac WiFi.
Fast forward to August 2015 and the latest reports from Japanese site Macotakara suggest that the upcoming iPad mini 4 will be thinner than its previous generation. In fact, the site claims that the iPad mini 4 will adopt the same level of thickness as the iPad Air, which measures 6.1mm, compared to the 7.5mm thickness of the current iPad mini line-up.
As well as thinning down the iPad mini, Apple has other plans to make the iPad more comfortable to use than previous iterations. The new iPad mini 4 is rumoured to inherit the iPad Air 2's laminated display and antireflective coating, which should provide users with a much more enjoyable experience when using the tablet outdoors and in bright conditions.
As well as a lightweight form factor, the iPad mini 4 is also set to inherit other features of the iPad Air 2, namely its 8Mp iSight camera and its A8 processor. If true, it'll be a step up from the iPad mini 3, which only offers a 5Mp iSight camera and an A7 chip, the same chip that's found in an (almost) 2-year-old iPhone 5S.
However, that's not all. There are also leaked images, courtesy of onLeaks, that seems to depict an iPad mini 4 bumper case. The pictures were originally posted on Twitter, but have since been removed.
The pictures hint at a slimmer iPad mini with the same design as the iPad Air 2, but these images should be taken with a pinch of salt. Manufacturers will often prepare cases for unreleased products based on leaks to get a head start on its competitors if the leaks turn out to be true.
It's also speculated that Apple will discontinue two of the currently available iPad mini models when the iPad mini 4 arrives: the original iPad mini and the iPad mini 3, keeping only the iPad mini 2 on as a more affordable option. This seems perfectly feasible to us, as the iPad 2 stayed on for several years despite the removal of some of its successors from the line-up.
We'll continue to update this article as more iPad mini 4 rumours emerge, so check back regularly for the latest information.
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Source: iPad mini 4 release date, specs & features rumours: latest reports suggest a September launch
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