According to sources in the Apple supply chain, Apple is said to be prepping a new fifth-generation iPad mini for the first half of 2019. This will be followed by a new entry-level iPad in two versions. The report claims that Apple is preparing to launch a low-priced iPad mini 5 in the first half of next year in an attempt to boost the declining sales of iPads.
The mass production is expected to start by the end of December. Apple hasn’t updated its smallest iPad since September 2015. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed in October that Apple is working on a new version of the iPad mini with an upgraded processor and a lower-cost display panel. He, however, mentioned that it might be released in 2018 or early 2019, adding more weight to the new development.
As for Apple’s entry-level iPad, the latest report claims that Apple would replace its sixth-generation 9.7-inch iPad with a similarly priced model that features a 10-inch display within a narrower frame. Apple is said to be launching two low-priced versions of the iPad in 2019 to boost sales growth. The latest report goes on to say Apple plans to reduce production costs of the two iPads by reducing the amount to LED procurement in Japan and switching to Korean-made LED displays.