New 10-Inch iPad and Cheaper iPad Mini Coming 'As Early As This Spring'

Apple is working on an updated version of the $329 6th-generation iPad and a new, cheaper ‌iPad‌ mini, Bloomberg today confirmed in an extensive report on Apple's future product plans.

The new version of the ‌iPad‌ will feature a "roughly 10-inch screen," which would be slightly larger than the 9.7-inch model that is currently available. The device is also expected to have a faster processor and a Lightning port instead of a USB-C port.

Apple is also working on an iPad mini 5, a followup to the 2015 ‌iPad‌ mini 4. The ‌iPad mini 5‌ will be cheaper than the existing model, but no other details were provided.

Prior rumors have suggested both the new ‌iPad‌ and the ‌iPad mini 5‌ will feature Touch ID Home buttons rather than Face ID, which would be appropriate as both are seemingly positioned as lower-cost devices.

Code found in iOS 12.2 indicates the two new tablets could potentially offer support for the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard as well.

According to Bloomberg, Apple could be planning to introduce the new iPads "as early as this spring," which is in line with other recent information.

New ‌iPad‌ models were registered with the Eurasian Economic Commission earlier this month, something that is generally done shortly ahead of a product launch, and references to new ‌iPad‌ models have been found in iOS 12.2.

For the last several years, Apple has held an event in March, and the company could be planning to do the same thing this year. If that's the case, we could see the new ‌iPad‌ and the ‌iPad mini 5‌ at some point in March.

As for the iPad Pro, Apple is said to be planning a major upgrade for 2020 with a laser-powered 3D camera for augmented reality purposes. No major changes are planned for 2019, and it is unclear if the ‌iPad Pro‌ will get a 2019 update at all.