Apple’s Working on a Large-Screened iPad mini and a New 10.8-inch iPad

A new investor note from highly-regarded Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo spills the beans on two new iPad models. Coming down the pike within the next year is a new 10.8-inch iPad, and an 8.5-inch iPad mini. Also according to Kuo, Apple’s rumored augmented reality smart glasses may not debut until 2022 at the earliest.

New 10.8-inch iPad and iPad mini

Kuo kicks off his note with details on a new 10.8-inch iPad that may debut in the second half of 2020. A smaller 8.5-inch iPad mini will join this larger iPad in Apple’s lineup in early 2021. Both of these iPads will follow the lead of the iPhone SE by pairing a fast processor with an affordable price tag.

Apple currently sells an affordable 10.2-inch iPad for $329 and the entry-level iPad Air for $499. Kuo didn’t elaborate whether this rumored 10.8-inch device will replace the 10.2-inch iPad or the iPad Air in Apple’s lineup.

An earlier rumor hints at a future iPad Air with Touch ID built into the display, but that device likely will carry a higher price tag. This new 10.8-inch model may be more suitable as a replacement for the 10.2-inch iPad, whose big selling point is its low price tag.

New iPad Screen Sizes

The most intriguing part of this iPad rumor is the screen size. Apple is again adopting different screen sizes for its iPad devices. The company currently sells a 7.9-inch iPad mini, a 10.2-inch iPad, a 10.5-inch iPad Air, and the iPad Pro in both 11-inch and 12.9-inch dimensions. These rumored iPads fall outside those existing sizes.

The iPad mini is especially interesting as Apple has kept the iPad mini at 7.9-inches since the tablet debuted. By including Face ID or possibly in-screen Touch ID technology, Apple may be able to fit the large display into the mini’s small form factor.

Apple Glass

Kuo also commented on Apple’s rumored augmented reality smart glasses, which he predicts will debut in 2022 at the earliest. Kuo timeframe pushes up the release date a bit from previous rumors. Earlier this year, Bloomberg predicted Apple’s smart glasses would land in 2023. It is still early in the development cycle, though, so we expect this target date to fluctuate.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]