There are rumors that Apple will release updated versions of the iPad mini and iPad Pro models in the first half of this year, possibly as soon as this month, and today’s new leaked news provides us with the overall design of the device and the details of the placement of the camera.
The leaker and Apple blogger Sonny Dickson shared some pictures on Twitter this morning, showing model versions of the upcoming 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, as well as the updated iPad mini 6.
The model is usually made based on CAD drawings obtained from the Chinese supply chain and is usually used to help shell manufacturers make patterns before they are officially unveiled.
Perhaps the biggest talk in the photo is the appearance of the iPad mini. It seems to have the same overall design as the previous generation model. It is equipped with a Home button. The top and bottom borders still exist. Dickson also said that this device looks “slightly thick.” A little bit”.
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Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple will launch a new iPad mini, which maybe 8.5 to 9 inches in size. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also said that the next iPad mini will have a larger display. However, whether the increase in the screen means that the iPad mini is larger or the frame is reduced is still unclear, and it is difficult to determine the specific size of the model in the picture.
Japanese website Mac Otakara claims that the iPad mini 6 will use an 8.4-inch display with a thinner frame and similar design to the iPad Air 3. But it also claims that the new model will continue to use the Touch ID Home button and Lightning interface, so it is not expected to copy the major design changes on the iPad Air and iPad Pro.
In other words, Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple is developing a new iPad mini with a mini-LED display, which may be the iPad mini after the increase in size. However, it is also unclear whether this is the iPad mini described in these pictures.
Let’s talk about the iPad Pro model again. The new model seems to have the same dual-lens camera system and is equipped with a LiDAR scanner. However, the camera bump of the 12.9-inch model seems to be smaller than that of the 11-inch model. There are rumors that the bulge of each lens in the camera module will be reduced, but the camera itself is expected to still bulge.
At the same time, the design of the reduced frame seems to echo the current model, but the Smart Connector at the bottom of the 12.9-inch model is mysteriously missing. Dickson has confirmed that the connector does not appear elsewhere in the model, and it is difficult to know whether its omission was intentional or wrong. In addition, it is difficult to see the specific screen size and size of the iPad Pro model from the photos, but no major design changes are expected.
Gurman said that the new iPad Pro models will use the updated A14X processor, which is “on par” with the M1 chip in MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini, and will also be equipped with a better camera. The large 12.9-inch iPad Pro will “at least” include a mini-LED display, and the upgrade of the display will bring about an increase in brightness and contrast. This is consistent with other rumors we have heard, most of the information indicates that the upgraded display technology will be limited to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
According to reports, Apple has also tested an iPad Pro with a Thunderbolt connector, which will make it compatible with additional external displays, hard drives and peripherals. In addition, it can also bring faster data synchronization speed, but it is still unclear. Will the function be included in the final 2021 model? Apple’s Mac has been using Thunderbolt technology for many years, but the current iPad Pro and iPad Air models use a standard USB-C interface.
We are still waiting for the specific details of Apple’s possible launch event in April, but Gurman claims that the company plans to announce new iPads as early as this month, including new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models. It remains to be seen whether these products will arrive through press conferences or will only be announced at digital events.
