Apple to launch 10.8-inch iPad this year, 8.5-inch iPad mini next year, report claims

Apple’s got new iPads in the works, and they’ll be quite different from the ones currently on the market. 

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors), Apple is preparing to launch a new, 10.8-inch iPad in the second half of 2020, and an 8.5-inch iPad in the first half of 2021. 

There are no details on the 10.8-inch device; it may be a larger version of the 10.2-inch iPad, or a successor to the 10.5-inch iPad Air (frankly, given how similar these two are, I’d prefer it if Apple just merged the two product lines into one). 

The 8.5-inch device, however, should be the new iPad mini. Kuo spoke about both these iPads back in May, but his report is now slightly refined with more details about the mini (previously, Kuo said the screen size will be 8.5 to 9 inches). 

Sadly, there still aren’t any details on whether the new iPad mini will retain its current design with just a slightly larger display (all versions of the iPad mini so far have a 7.9-inch display), or whether it will be a bigger overhaul, bringing the iPad Pro-like design to the mini. 

I’ve written, numerous times, about that second possibility, but in a nutshell, I think that would make the new mini the most exciting new iPad in years. And even if that didn’t happen, any screen size increase for the iPad mini would be exciting — as long as the form factor stays (roughly) the same. 

Kuo did reveal one tiny detail about the new devices. His report claims that both new iPads mentioned in this report will come with a new, 20W power adapter in the box. 

Kuo also confirmed a recent Barclays report that Apple’s iPhone 12 will probably come without a charger, which will be sold separately.