Apple iPad Mini 4 (Photo : Reuters)
The rationale for a Surface Pro Mini is that tablet users may prefer a smaller version of the hotly anticipated Microsoft Surface Pro 4. But the iPad Mini 4 is rumored to be coming soon and may well just nix the need for a compact Windows-powered slate.
The latest word from 9to5mac indicates that the iPad Mini 4 is for real following earlier reports that Apple will skip on the fourth version of the device that once ruled the tablet market. To prove that the iOS-powered Mini 4 exists and could touchdown soon, the blog report published a video clip that showcased the 3D CAD images of the tablet.
The short clip, 9to5Mac said, was posted on YouTube by @OnLeaks who is reputed as a reliable source of leaked information on upcoming gadgets. What the clip revealed and combined with the outed details so far on the Mini 4, tablet fans could very well write off the unconfirmed Surface Pro Mini that Gospel Herald said is mainly optimized for the Windows 10 feature Continuum.
Although unconfirmed, these are the killer features to expect from the iPad Mini 4:
Mini clone of iPad Air 2
Famed Apple watcher Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities said in a note released in July that Apple is definitely bumping off the iPad Mini 3, largely a disappointment, with the Mini 4. And to ensure that fourth-gen small iOS tablet will be more successful than its predecessor, the Mini 4 will be built after the iPad Air 2.
What were seen with the Air 2 will mostly make it to the final cut of the Mini 4 but in scaled down render.
Camera upgrade
The rear cam will be bumped up to 8MP and likely the front-facing selfie shooter too.
Same Air 2 form factor
As the Air 2 is slim and light so is the Mini 4 too with the device thickness whittled down to 6.1mm from last year's 7.5mm. It was unclear, however, if the new super-thin profile will impact on the battery capacity of the Mini 4.
A9 chip, iOS 9 and RAM jump
There were reports that say the iPad Mini 4 will be powered by an A8 processing chip that will work in tandem with iOS 9. But to best utilize the power of the new Apple mobile operating, it is likely too that A9 will be the preferred application processor, which is rumored to fire up the flagships iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.
And likely the iPad Air 2 before it, the iPad Mini 4 will get a higher RAM provision, stepping up from 1GB to 2GB for the 2015 version.
The iPad Mini 4 release date is not expected until October 2015 but it is possible that the device will get an early introduction alongside with the iPad Air 3 and the iPhone 6S on September 9.
