iPad Mini 6 Launch Delayed, Apple Pushes Back Release To Second Half of 2021

The iPad Mini 6 may not be released until the second half of 2021, an Apple analyst said. Apple’s next generation of tablets were rumored to be rolled out during the April Spring Loaded event.

A note sent to investors by Ming-Chi Kuo also suggested that the first-ever Apple 8-inch foldable phone was expected to arrive by 2023, reported 9to5 Mac.

Apple was expected to introduce a refreshed iPad mini as it unveiled the M1 chip-powered iPad Pro line up with XDR Retina mini-LED display, The Digitimes reported.

Supply restraints may have contributed to the delay, MacRumors reported.

In May 2020, Kuo hinted that Apple is planning to release a 9-inch display iPad Mini. He said the refreshed Apple tablet could come with an almost similar size as the iPad Air. Yet the next-generation iPad Mini will feature smaller bezels to enable wider screens.

A hint from Japan's Macotara confirmed the smaller bezels, saying that the iPad Mini 6 will come with an 8.4-inch display. That means the next generation Apple mini-tablet will be half an inch wider than the current 7.9-inch iPad Mini 5.

Reports also suggest that the upcoming iPad Mini 6 will not jump into the USB-C port, yet will retain the current iPad Mini 5 lightning port. The Touch ID will be noticeably moved to the side button due to the smaller bezel design.

The analyst added that Apple could release the iPad Mini 6 with the current XDR Retina technology. Users may expect the bright image and deeper black output as the next-generation iPad will use the mini-LED display.

There are still no hint on how much the upcoming iPad Mini 6 will be sold for in the market. The iPad Mini 5 currently sells at $399 for a 64GB configuration.