California tech giant Apple seemed to have totally overlook the latest version of the popular iPad Mini when it launched two of its newest products - the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, back in September. Nonetheless, the iPad Mini 5 might be off the shelves as soon as early 2017.

Fans of the iPad Mini chose to overcome their disappointment towards Apple when it kept mum on details about the iPad Mini 5, mainly through citing all possible feature improvements and other forecasts. Such has been the substance of rumors surrounding the iPad Mini 5, many of which expect to be a highly-compact version of the iPad Pro.

PC Advisor reported that the iPad Mini 5 will be unveiled around the first quarter of 2017 alongside the iPad Pro 2. Reports have insinuated that the iPad Pro 2 will have three display variants - 9.7 inch, 10.5 inch, and 12.9 inch. Althougb Apple has yet to confirm those reports, rumors continue to emerge that the iPad Mini 5 should serve as an introductory passage for the iPad Pro 2, as it's equipped with an Apple A9X chipset, 3 GC RAM, and 32 GB storage.

Speculations abound that Apple is now working to scrap the 16 GB minimum gadget space. A 128 GB version of the iPad Mini 5 is set to be unveiled, and the device itself may feature the iPhone 6s' 7000-series aluminium design.

According to HotAppleNews, the iPad Mini 5 is coming to hit stores right on time around early next year, and may come alongside the iPad Pro 2. The iPad Mini 5 may serve as an entry level gadget that may have some features the iPad Pro 2 has.

Apple fans need not to wait for much longer, as their much-beloved "little iPad" is set to take on a brand-new rendition as soon as early 2017. With terrific features on a more portable body, what's not to love about the iPad Mini 5?