New iPad Mini 5 Could Support Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard

Apple's upcoming refreshed iPad mini and next-generation iPad could feature support for the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, according to details shared today by developer Steve Troughton-Smith.

Troughton-Smith has been digging into the latest iOS beta for details on the new ‌iPad‌ models, and he says that all of this information should be taken with a grain of salt because he's not 100 percent sure on the details.

From what he's found, though, ‌iPad‌ models codenamed J210, J211, J217, and J218 come in two sizes, likely corresponding to rumored ‌iPad mini‌ 5 models and a refreshed sixth-generation ‌iPad‌, which is said to be getting a larger 10-inch display, up from 9.7 inches.

Both ‌iPad‌ sizes appear to support a ‌Smart Keyboard‌ and Pencil, which makes sense as Apple proved its willingness to offer ‌Apple Pencil‌ support in its more affordable tablets with the launch of the sixth-generation ‌iPad‌.

The new iPads appear to support Touch ID, so it sounds like the form factors will be similar to the existing models. Apple's iPad Pro models use Face ID, but with both the ‌iPad‌ and the new ‌iPad mini‌ likely to be positioned as more affordable devices, we're expecting Apple to stick with Touch ID.

Rumors have suggested both a new ‌iPad mini‌ 5 and an updated ‌iPad‌ will launch in early 2019, and we've seen signs of them in iOS 12.2 and through registration with the Eurasian Economic Commission. Apple has held a March event for the last several years, so it's possible we'll be seeing updated tablets right around then.