Jan 26, 2017 01:23 AM EST By Ava Jones, UniversityHerald Reporter

Rumors have been circulating online of a 7.9-inch iPad mini 5, which Apple is expected to officially announce in March 2017 with its iPad Pro 2 and iPad Air 3. Meanwhile, fans are hoping that the new iPad mini 5 would be a larger version of the recently released iPhone 7.

Roundup Of Rumors: Will It Be A Larger iPhone 7?

After Apple released its iPhone 7 last September 2017, fans are expecting to see an iPad mini 5 with water-resistant capabilities and the IP68 dust protection certification. Some fans even want to see the dark black design of the iPad mini first generation on the new iPad mini 5. They would also like to have the home button and A10 gaming features on the new device.

Leaks from China have circulated the web and some are suggesting it will have a pencil support. But of course, these rumors should be treated with a grain of salt as nothing substantial now will ever come as close as to when it will actually be revealed.

UK Release Date

The iPad mini 5 is expected for release in the UK in March this year, which might be delayed to the second half of this year, PC Advisor reported. Apple released its iPad mini 4 on September 9, 2015, alongside its iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. Meanwhile, Apple had separate releases of various products in 2016 beginning on March, followed by June, then September, and last was on October, which could mean that the release date for its next latest product would be on March this year.

The iPad mini 5 is expected to have slimmer design at around 5mm in depth, Value Walk reported. This product could also have the 7000-series aluminum feature of the Apple Watch to make it lightweight and more durable avoiding another bendgate scandal. There are also speculations that the smaller tablet would have flexible display with the Smart Connector.

The flexible display would allow users to fold the screen and place it safely in their pockets or bags when not in use. The battery life for this new product is also expected to be more powerful for longer usage. The iPad mini 5 could have the 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB options with the possibility of a 3D Touch feature.

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