Apple have been playing it relatively safe in the last few years with their tablets. While we’ve seen some interesting new additions to the line, things have been moving rather slowly and it’s clear that the company doesn’t want to take any major risks right now. Which is understandable, as they are currently facing quite a lot of competition in this market. But according to some recent rumors, this might change with the release of the iPad Mini 5, which could come with a few extra features to help it stand out from the competition.
It’s possible that the device could come with a stylus, continuing the trend of introducing the Apple Pencil to various devices despite the company’s earlier stance on this type of input. Many people still remember how much Steve Jobs was against the idea of using a stylus to navigate the menus of a handheld device, but times have changed and Apple are now pushing for a wider adoption of the trend.
3D touch is also not out of the question, although it’s not clear if this refers to Apple’s special flavor of the technology (“Force Touch”), or the one attempted by Nokia in the past which relied on the user hovering their fingers above the screen. The latter could be an interesting addition to the iPad, and Apple definitely have the potential to realize an idea like that successfully.
Other than that, rumors also talk about an even thinner body and better specifications, although the last part should be expected by default. With regards to the size, there are claims that this could be the thinnest entry in the iPad Mini line yet, which would be impressive considering that the iPad Minis are already pretty small and lightweight as it is.
At the same time, Apple are going to improve the hardware in the device, which could make it a cutting-edge productivity tool. Something so light and portable could be quite useful if it also allows the user to do some serious work on the go. And of course, we also have Apple’s unique flavor of productivity features which can always add an extra boost to the workflow of a person.
Could the tablet also ship with an improved version of iOS? It wouldn’t be very typical for Apple to debut an update to the operating system on a device like the new iPad Mini, but we never know what they might be planning behind their doors. It’s clear that Apple have been changing their approach significantly over the last few years, and while some have criticized the company for allegedly steering away from Steve Jobs’ original view, they are still very successful and with a strong market presence.
There are rumors that the launch of iOS 10 is scheduled for July, so it’s possible that the device could ship with the operating system – but in that case, it’s very likely that another device will precede it, as Apple are more likely to debut the OS on an iPhone or a regular iPad.
With that in mind, we’re curious what the company could be planning for the following months. There have been various rumors going around, and many people have high hopes for Apple’s presence on the market in 2016, but there is still half a year left to go. Plenty can happen in that timespan, and we may very well see a major release by Apple in a few months.