iPad Mini 4 Release Date, Specs Rumors: Could Include Hardware Demanded by Users

The rivalry between Microsoft and Apple is moving into the world of tablets. This will be made more apparent when the iPad Mini 4 is launched later this year to take on the rumored Surface Pro Mini.

Last October, Apple left many people disappointed when it did not introduce major modifications in the iPad Mini 3. But now, indications point towards the company significantly redesigning the smaller tablet or including hardware demanded by users to increase sales.

A recent report by The Motley Fool noted that the iPhone 6 Plus was eating away a sizeable portion of iPad Mini 3 sales. The report also pointed out that iPad sales started to decline in June 2013 and has been falling even more since the iPhone 6 Plus debuted. While this does not necessarily make the outlook very bleak for the iPad and iPad Mini lineup, it could mean that Apple has an uphill task on its hands if it wants to win back customers.

A silver lining in the bleak sales figures for iPads is that more people are reportedly preferring the iPad Mini models over the larger iPads. This will no doubt be encouraging to Apple.

However, strong competition is just around the corner in the form of the Surface Pro Mini. Rumors of the new device from Microsoft have been making the rounds and they point towards it beating the iPad Mini 4 to the market.

As for the release date of the iPad Mini 4, it could be sometime next month or it could be pushed to June or July.

Coming to its specs, indications are that Apple has finally ditched the A7 processor, which powered the iPad Mini 4's predecessor, and will instead use the latest A8 processor, which is also present on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Other changes in the new mini iPad will include a laminated screen or an anti-reflective coating along with 2 GB RAM, which will go a long way to fulfill the expectations of users.