iPad Mini 5 release date, specs news 2016: Latest iPad Mini gets rid of 3.5-mm headphone jack; Design thinner than iPad Mini 4

If the latest rumors are anything to go by, the arrival of the new iPad Mini 5 will happen sooner than anyone would expect. It is likely that the next iteration of the iPad Mini will be released along with Apple's other big devices this year such as the 2016 MacBook Pro and iPhone 7 during the company's big event this Fall. The successor of iPad Mini 4 is expected to sport a few changes, and one of them is the omission of the 3.5-mm headphone jack. Also, the new iPad Mini 5 is going to be thinner than the iPad Mini 4's build.

Rumors are rife that the upcoming big gadgets from the Cupertino-based tech giant will be unveiled early in September. This rumor started from a popular tech leaker Evan Blass, when he started teasing his followers with the release of iPhone 7 in September. Latin Times reported that the September event will also feature other Apple gadgets, and one of those is the iPad Mini 5. Still, the exact date of the release is not confirmed.

The online publication also reported that the iPad Mini 5 will have noticeable differences compared to its predecessor, the iPad Mini 4. For starters, iPad Mini 4 is going to be thicker compared to the latest iteration. The iPad Mini 5 is rumored to be only 5-mm thick, while the iPad Mini 4 is 6.1 mm in total thickness. Perhaps one of the reasons of iPad Mini 5's thin appearance is the removal of the 3.5-mm headphone jack. This is the same with the case of iPhone 7 and instead of the traditional headphones, the users are now expected to have wireless earpiece. Regarding the screen display, Apple is rumored to maintain the iPad Mini's 7.9-inch width. The camera features might also be retained and stay at 8 MP for the main camera and 1.2 MP for the front cam.

The only downside of iPad Mini 5 for now is that it will be using a weaker battery compared to 5124 mAh battery of the iPad Mini 4. However, the new device will be using A9 processor that consumes less power compared to the old A8 chip that the iPad Mini 4 is using. A9 processor will provide a better display resolution and a better gaming graphic experience.

According to other reports, the iPad Mini 5 is expected to be released this September because the iPad Mini 4 was released last year in the same month. But there's also a possibility that it will be unveiled in a standalone event. The predicted month is sometime in October or towards the end of Q3 2016.