The next-gen iPad information you wanted came a bit ahead of schedule.
According to The Verge and 9to5Mac, Apple accidentally revealed both of its new iPads: the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 on its web site. An official user guide for iOS 8 in the iTunes Store has apparently had its screenshots updated ahead of schedule; both new iPads are pictured, and the images reveal each will have a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Aside from the addition of Touch ID, it seems these latest iPads will look nearly identical to their predecessors. 9to5Mac first spotted the premature iPad screenshots. The full-resolution image is still sitting on Apple’s servers.
It’s expected that Apple will improve the performance of each iPad with the help of an updated chipset, likely the iPhone 6’s A8 or a slightly more powerful A8X processor. What’s not clear is whether the iPad mini 3 will match the larger iPad Air 2 spec for spec. Last year, Apple essentially put both tablets on equal footing, but the company may revise its strategy to put more room between them. The user guide hints that one new feature for iPads — burst photography mode — will be available on the iPad Air 2 with no mention of the mini 3.
Regardless, the iTunes document all but confirms that major design changes will not coming this year.
Tomorrow’s media event is expected to include the release of iOS 8.1 as well as the launch of Apple Pay are now almost certainly on tomorrow’s agenda.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.