Compal Expected to Assemble iPad Mini 5 Launching 'Later in 2019'

Taiwanese manufacturer Compal Electronics is expected to be a supplier of the so-called iPad mini 5 when the tablet launches later in 2019, according to DigiTimes. This would likely entail final assembly of the device.

ipad mini 4 2017 roundup header

‌iPad mini‌ 4

Rumors suggest Apple will release the new ‌iPad mini‌ as early as this spring, likely alongside a new seventh-generation iPad with a slightly larger 10-inch display. Apple's plans to release a new ‌iPad mini‌ have been reported by Ming-Chi Kuo, Mark Gurman, DigiTimes, and the China Times.

Apple has debuted new iPads in March for three consecutive years, including the 9.7-inch iPad Pro in 2016, the fifth-generation ‌iPad‌ in 2017, and the sixth-generation ‌iPad‌ in 2018, so there's a good chance that Apple will unveil the ‌iPad mini‌ 5 and the new 10-inch ‌iPad‌ in a little over a month from now.

Kuo said the new ‌iPad mini‌ will feature an upgraded processor and a lower-cost panel, but few details are known beyond that.

The current iPad mini 4 was released in September 2015. The tablet features a 7.9-inch display with 326 PPI, A8 chip, 2GB of RAM, Touch ID, 8-megapixel rear camera, a Lightning connector, dual speakers, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It is available with 128GB of storage for $399 (Wi-Fi) and $529 (LTE).

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro and Air Feature

Two iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air Colors Appear to Scratch More Easily

Friday September 19, 2025 10:02 am PDT by
As reported by Bloomberg today, some of the new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air models on display at Apple Stores today are already scratched and scuffed. French blog Consomac also reported on this topic. The scratches appear to be most prominent on models with darker finishes, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in Deep Blue, and the iPhone Air in Space Black. Images Credit: Consoma ...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone Like 'Two Titanium iPhone Airs' Joined at the Hinge

Monday September 22, 2025 2:16 am PDT by
Next year's rumored foldable iPhone will showcase an ultra-thin design resembling "two titanium iPhone Airs side-by-side," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in the Q&A section of his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says Apple's first foldable device will be "super thin and a design achievement," combining Apple's thinnest iPhone form factor with cutting-edge folding...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.1 Coming Soon, Likely With iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Fix

Thursday September 18, 2025 9:17 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. The update will have a build number of 23A350, or similar, the account said. It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's Henry T. ...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.1 Beta 1

Monday September 22, 2025 12:44 pm PDT by
Apple released the first beta of iOS 26.1 today, just a week after launching iOS 26. iOS 26.1 mainly adds new languages to Apple Intelligence, but there are a few other features that are worth knowing about. New Apple Intelligence Languages Apple Intelligence is now available in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. AirPo...
iPhone 17 Pro Colors

iPhone 17 Pro Max Teardown Reveals Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 Modem for 5G

Friday September 19, 2025 7:39 am PDT by
While the iPhone Air is equipped with Apple's custom C1X modem for cellular connectivity, all of the iPhone 17 models are outfitted with Qualcomm modems still. A teardown video shared on Chinese platform Bilibili today (via Reddit) appears to confirm the iPhone 17 Pro Max is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 modem in particular. The same modem is likely used in the iPhone 17 and iPhone ...
iphone 17 pro max techwoven

Here Are The Best Cases You Can Buy for Your New iPhone 17 and iPhone Air

Friday September 19, 2025 6:46 am PDT by
Apple's new iPhones launch today, and there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to protecting your new device from drops and scratches. In this article, we're taking a look at some of the best options for iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Air cases, as well as a few charging accessories. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...

Top Rated Comments

nfl46 Avatar
87 months ago
Give us an iPad Mini 5 and iPhone SE 2 with updated specs & a lot of people will be happy.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MadeByApple Avatar
87 months ago
I hope they won't go full penny-pinching again and use the old chassis (but seeing Cook's track record, I'm sure that's exactly what they'll do)
My bet is on it being thicker, lower quality screen for the same $399. And this new 10 inch iPad rumor will have similar crappy parts for $499.

Apple wants us to feel compelled to buy an iPad Pro. There’s no way they will give us what we want— a full-featured iPad Mini with a sub $500 price.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
otternonsense Avatar
87 months ago
I hope they won't go into full penny-pinching mode again and use the old chassis (but seeing Cook's track record, I'm sure that's exactly what they'll do)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MRrainer Avatar
87 months ago
Mom's original iPad Mini is very slow now. We're waiting for a replacement to show up. Can't justify buying the "current" Mini now, at that price.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
w_aldo Avatar
87 months ago

Kuo said the new iPad mini will feature an upgraded processor and a lower-cost panel
So an air gap, then?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
G5isAlive Avatar
87 months ago
The excitement builds... knowing that no matter what is released there are going to be three basic comments
1) who wants this? update the Mac Pro!
2) they cheaped out, I want a fully featured iPad mini Pro at half the cost!
3) its too expensive, I want just a basic device.

The minority will say, just what I have been waiting for!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)