Kuo: Apple to Launch 10.8-Inch iPad Later This Year, 8.5-Inch iPad Mini in 2021

[smulji]

I wonder what all of this means for the 11 inch iPad Pro. How they will distinguish it from all of these, or if they will drop it in the iPad Pro becomes only the larger model.

That's a good question. I can definitely see that happening if the next iPad Air is the same form factor of the 11" iPP.

 

[efktd]

As if the iPad line up isn’t already a mess. Add two different pencils and 🤯

not even Apple Genius has a clue. The other day I went to the Apple Store, asking for a case for my iPad Pro and they would have sold me the wrong case if I hadn’t done my own research beforehand.

Genius:
this is an iPad or the iPad Air?

Me:
„no this is an iPad Pro but it’s the 10.5 iPad Pro. No not that iPad Pro. The iPad Pro That uses the same case as the iPad Air 3 but not the iPad one. It has the same size as the iPad Air but it is an iPad Pro“

Genius: ??? Are you sure? The package for this case says iPad Air 3

I made this sheet just to keep up with the confusion!

 

[urnotl33t]

If one's intent is to use the iPad as strictly a consumption device, then it makes perfect sense. The mini is portable, & easy and comfortable to hold in one hand for long periods of time. It provides a great lean back against the couch experience. If you're someone that believes in SJ's 2010 vision that he laid out for the iPad, then I would say the iPad mini is the quintessential iPad.

Oh heck yeah completely agree. That’s my iPad right here right now, but the 7.9” 5th gen. It’s the 8.5 that doesn’t seem to jive.

Edit: I also do all my banking work and updates on my iPad now, not just as a consumption toy, and I’m using my phone as a secondary means to “check in” on my accounts. Banktivity app to sync between devices. I use my Banktivity Mac app as the “sync source” to sync my accounts, then sync to Banktivity cloud service to go between devices. I update or create spreadsheets and documents with iWork suite. I really enjoy that, actually. Notes for... duh.. notes. It’s been a great worker for me. Really enjoy it. Now I’m going to learn a foreign language soon with Rosetta Stone. Waiting for some iTunes cards to go on 15% sale to buy the Rosetta lifetime subscription. 😁 I’m a rather frugal bastard sometimes. Haha.

 

[adib]

I would love an 8.5 iPad Mini.

As long as the external dimensions doesn't increase...

 

[PickUrPoison]

I can't keep up with them anymore. Jeez just make like 3 sizes of iPad TOTAL already. It should be iPad Pro in small, medium, and large, and "cheap" iPad in medium.

So you traded the regular mini and the Air for an iPad Pro mini?

No choice of iPads at all unless you’ve got $600 or $700 to blow, and then your only alternative is an iPad mini Pro?

Yikes.

 

[MacBH928]

Does 20W means faster charging? Does this mean it charges 4 times as fast as the 5W?

 

[smulji]

It’s the 8.5 that doesn’t seem to jive.

Unless it's an 8.5" iPad mini with the iPad Pro design "bezel-free" design.
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Edit: I also do all my banking work and updates on my iPad now, not just as a consumption toy, and I’m using my phone as a secondary means to “check in” on my accounts. Banktivity app to sync between devices. I use my Banktivity Mac app as the “sync source” to sync my accounts, then sync to Banktivity cloud service to go between devices. I update or create spreadsheets and documents with iWork suite. I really enjoy that, actually. Notes for... duh.. notes. It’s been a great worker for me. Really enjoy it. Now I’m going to learn a foreign language soon with Rosetta Stone. Waiting for some iTunes cards to go on 15% sale to buy the Rosetta lifetime subscription. 😁 I’m a rather frugal bastard sometimes. Haha.

That's awesome!

 

[cmaier]

Does 20W means faster charging? Does this mean it charges 4 times as fast as the 5W?

Faster, yes. Not quite 4x faster.

 

[nicho]

added support for Screen Mirroring from an iPhone to it !

That last point is key.

Genuine question... why!?

 

[one more]

Like the iPhone XR vs. iPhone XS?

This 10.8” model is definitely the low-cost iPad. There is more than just screen size. The Air will still have advantages like a laminated P3 display, more base storage, and a much better front camera.

If the 10.8” is cheaper than Air 3 (to be seen) and more modern than Air 3 (a fact), this new iPad can still halt Air 3 sales. So many people do not care about technical subtleties, but the screen size and price are two very obvious factors.

So we will have this new 10.8” iPad, iPad (7 Gen), iPad Air 3, Mini and Pro? My guess than would be that the new iPad will replace both the currently cheapest iPad 7 Gen and Air 3, so Apple will then have a bigger iPad Mini, this 10.8” iPad and iPad Pro.
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The various rumours mostly state that the iPad Air 4 will go straight into the iPad Pro 2018 11” chassis, most likely with A14 chip but with various features downgraded like promotion moved and reduction from 4 to 2 speakers. This is exactly what happened with the iPad Air 3 going into the old iPad Pro 10.5 chassis. This new 10.8 model is likely to be the new entry level iPad.

If this is the new entry level iPad, it might seriously sabotage Air 3 sales.

 

[Veinticinco]

Eh? Um? Jeez. What a fragmented mess the iPad line has become.

 

[Johnny907]

If they do release a new mini that matches the form factor and capabilities of the 11” pro, I’d ditch mine in a New York minute. The Pro is great but I miss the portability of my Mini 4. It was just the perfect size for me.

 

[JPack]

If the 10.8” is cheaper than Air 3 (to be seen) and more modern than Air 3 (a fact), this new iPad can still halt Air 3 sales. So many people do not care about technical subtleties, but the screen size and price are two very obvious factors.

So we will have this new 10.8” iPad, iPad (7 Gen), iPad Air 3, Mini and Pro? My guess than would be that the new iPad will replace both the currently cheapest iPad 7 Gen and Air 3, so Apple will then have a bigger iPad Mini, this 10.8” iPad and iPad Pro.

The iPad Air still offers plenty of advantages including a better Pencil experience, more base storage, and a better front camera. Where the $329 iPad serves as a media consumption device, the iPad Air is better suited for content creation.

Apple can do a few things to maintain value for the iPad Air, such as increasing base storage, updating to A13, or even decreasing price to $449.

 

[himanshumodi]

Like the iPhone XR vs. iPhone XS?

This 10.8” model is definitely the low-cost iPad. There is more than just screen size. The Air will still have advantages like a laminated P3 display, more base storage, and a much better front camera.

I agree. Next iPad Air surely will have gen 2 pencil compatibility? Low cost iPad will continue to have pencil 1 compatibility i would think

 

[zombierunner]

As long as the physical size of the whole device is the same as the current mini... just eliminate the large bezel.

I want a 9 inch iPad Pro.

 

[Seanm87]

I made this sheet just to keep up with the confusion!
View attachment 928907

First iPad Air was 2013 and air 2 was 2014

 

[-DMN-]

Couldn’t agree more.

 

[xDKP]

"in 2021" .... Sometimes Apple doesn't seem to be the biggest tech company on the planet with massive R&D resources....

 

[The Game 161]

Shame mini won’t support pencil 2 from the sounds

 

[Yebubbleman]

The more I think about it, the more the 8.5" iPad mini seems like the same sized iPad mini we have now, but with the edge-to-edge bezel-free, home-button-less, FaceID-equipped iPad Pro treatment. It would make sense if they see any kind of continuity and continuation to the iPad line past the fifth gen. Here's hoping they keep the same size. I love the size of the current mini.

 

[Kal-037]

Apple plans to launch a new 10.8-inch iPad in the second half of 2020, followed by a new 8.5-inch iPad in the first half of 2021, oft-reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a research note obtained by MacRumors.

Kuo did not specify if the 10.8-inch iPad model will be a new version of the existing 10.2-inch iPad or the 10.5-inch iPad Air, but he has previously said that the 8.5-inch model will be a new iPad mini. Apple last refreshed the iPad mini in March 2019 with an A12 Bionic chip, an upgraded front camera, and support for the original Apple Pencil.

Kuo expects Apple to include a new 20W power adapter in the box with both iPad models, as seen in leaked photos earlier this week.

As for iPhones, Kuo expects the 20W power adapter to be made available as an optional accessory, meaning that iPhone 12 models would not include a charger in the box. EarPods aren't expected in the box either.

Article Link: Kuo: Apple to Launch 10.8-Inch iPad Later This Year, 8.5-Inch iPad Mini in 2021

I’m absolutely in.
I love the mini 5 and will keep it even if a new one might be coming. Honestly, iPads are the most fun and best pieces of tech I’ve ever used.

 

[spinedoc77]

I agree. Next iPad Air surely will have gen 2 pencil compatibility? Low cost iPad will continue to have pencil 1 compatibility i would think

Most likely, but then the gen 3 pencil will also be released!

 

[Ballis]

Doesnt sound like a «mini» anymore. Isnt the regular iPad 9,7?

 

[x-evil-x]

Would you still buy a mini pro if it was twice the price of a standard mini? As that's the price increment of the full size pro over the entry level one.

id buy a mini pro for 599 yep. 899 would be a hard sell for me. maybeeee 649-699 if it has 128 gig storage for base model.
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Doesnt sound like a «mini» anymore. Isnt the regular iPad 9,7?

8.5" would keep the mini about the same size as it is now just more screen.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

As a pilot, I would buy an 8.5 inch iPad Mini immediately if it was nearly the same size as the current Mini. I am 100% in if this rumor is true.