The iPad Pro and iPad Air adapted the same design. Squared off sides with dramatically smaller bezels make for great looking tablet that makes the most of the space it takes up. Apple kept the traditional design for the iPad and iPad mini, the latter of which hasn’t been updated since 2019. But that doesn’t make much sense, does it? The iPad mini is great for taking notes, reading, and more traditional tablet tasks. It’s about the size of a Moleskine notebook (or the Leuchtturm 1917, my favorite notebook), and there’s a reason those are so popular. The small size makes them perfect for taking anywhere.
You see the problem though, don’t you? Those notebooks don’t have huge bezels. The iPad mini still does. Or, at least, it still does for now.
The next iPad mini will, if the rumors are true, finally make use of its reduced space, despite featuring a similar case size and design. It might be exactly what the iPad mini needs to compete with the iPad Air and iPad Pro: a screen that’s half an inch larger.
The 8.4″ iPad mini
The iPad mini’s best selling point is its size. However, that size currently comes with a screen that’s much smaller than it should be. At 7.9″, it’s just over an inch larger than the iPhone 12 Pro Max. While we can comment on the fact that smartphone screen sizes are completely ridiculous, it’s also true that the iPad mini isn’t being used to its full potential with a huge bezel around its screen. The iPad Apple will supposedly reveal in March this year will change that.
According to Macotakara, the upcoming iPad mini display will be 0.5″ larger, going up to an 8.4-inch display. While the smaller bezels will be reminiscent of the iPad Air and iPad Pro, the shape of the device will likely resemble the current iPad. That is, rounded edges. This means it will likely still work with the Apple Pencil 1. Yes, the silly one you have to plug into the bottom port to charge. It’s possible that Apple will do something else, like put a charging method in the bezel, but, for now, it appears Apple’s next iPad mini will feature rounded edges, which likely won’t be compatible with the Apple Pencil 2.
Here's the third one! #Apple #iPadMini6 2021 with massive screen-to-body ratio (based on leaked CAD drawings) + 4k video + dimensions + comparison with iPhone 12 – https://t.co/nSE9gPA7a1
Thanks to my partners at @pigtou_
Follow for more content!#iOS14 #ipad pic.twitter.com/fle6NCfTXB
— xleaks7 (David Kowalski) (@xleaks7) January 20, 2021
The Touch ID home button will survive, and the iPad mini will still feature a Lightning port. One mock-up, supposedly based on CAD specs, states that the display will have a punch out for the Touch ID sensor. However, it could also be an under display sensor. It does not seem that the iPad mini will feature the same Touch ID sensor as the iPad Air.
Spring Event
Apple will likely reveal the new iPad mini during their spring event, likely in March. Other rumored items include new AirPods, possibly with a more AirPods Pro-like design, and a new iPad Pro, with an upgraded processor based on the A14 chip, an upgrade from the A12-based chip in the current Pro model.
Apple’s spring event hasn’t been announced yet, though it’ll likely be in mid-March. Going off of the number of rumors we currently have, as well as the number of leaks, the event is likely at least a month away. In other words, don’t expect anything more than speculation in February. Still, Apple likes to surprise us with small releases, so keep your eyes peeled!