Apple is supposedly readying a new 10.8-inch iPad Air, a larger iPad mini and a new iMac to launch during the second half of the year, according to a report from Taiwanese website DigiTimes that comes amid rumors that Apple is supposedly unveiling an all-new iMac as soon as later this month at WWDC.
Currently hidden behind a paywall, DigiTimes is preparing to drop a new report on backlit unit (BLU) supplier Radiant Opto-Electronics who is said to be ready to ship BLUs for Apple’s upcoming iPad and iMac models set to be released later this year.
The report references new 10.8-inch iPad and 8- to 9-inch iPad mini sizes, adding that volume production of the new iPad Air is to kick off in the third quarter of 2020. From what we can see, the report does not mention features for the new devices, but previous rumors have suggested Apple will replace the Lightning Port on the next-generation “iPad Air 4” in favour of USB-C, and that we may see the introduction of Face ID.
Apple’s new offerings for second-half 2020 are likely to include a 10.8-inch iPad Air and a 23-inch iMac device, with prospects to also release an 8.x-inch iPad mini and 12.9-inch iPad Pro with mini LED display in the first half of 2021, said the sources. – Apple is also expected to enlarge the size of 2020 iPad Air to 10.8-inch compared to the 10.2-inch one launched in 2019, said the sources, adding that volume production of the new iPad Air is to kick off in the third quarter 2020. – Major panel suppliers for the planned 10.8-inch iPad Air include LG Display, BOE Technology and Sharp, with Radiant being the sole BLU supplier, the sources added.
Previously, leading analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared his predictions for Apple’s future iPad lineup, saying he believes a 10.8-inch iPad is in the works and that we would see an update to the iPad mini later this year.