Apple has yet to make the iPad Mini 5 official, but according to recent reports, a new iteration of the mini tablet is expected to arrive in 2017. Specifically, it is rumored that the Cupertino-based will introduce the new model in March 2017 at a keynote event.
The iPad Mini 5 is also rumored to undergo a change in its name. Latest speculations suggest that Apple will no longer continue the iPad Mini series, but instead will continue to promote the iPad Pro line. That said, the iPad Mini 5 could also be called the iPad Pro mini and it is said to share the stage with iPad Pro 2 at the March event.
When it comes to the design, the iPad Mini 5 is expected to be smaller and thinner than the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. PC Advisor speculates that the tiny tablet will have 128 GB as its highest variant. It is unlikely that the Mini 5 will have 256 GB since it requires additional cost to develop larger storage space, the report added. However, this doesn't rule out the possibility that the iPad Mini 4 successor could have 256 GB storage.
Under the hood, the iPad Mini 5 or iPad Pro mini will reportedly have an A9 chipset. This will be an improvement in the processing speed from iPad Mini 4's A8 chipset. As for the screen resolution, it is unlikely that the upcoming tablet will have an upgrade. The 7.9-inch Retina IPS display is likely to remain, but it's possible that it will come with a 3D Touch feature.
Since the iPad Mini 5 is said to be thinner than its predecessor, it's also likely that it will carry a smaller battery. The camera specs will most probably be the same as the iPad Mini 4's. The device will presumably ship with an iOS 10 pre-installed. So far, these specs and features of the iPad Mini 5 are based only on speculations so it should be taken with a grain of salt.