iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 3 Rumored To Be Coming In October

Now that Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 6, the company can turn its attention to the newest iteration of the iPad Air and the iPad Mini. The firm is rumored to be unveiling the iPad Air 2 along with the new Mini 3 sometime in October. It would seem to be poetic justice if the two new tablets were unveiled around the first week of the month, much like the iPhone Plus and iPhone Plus 6 were rolled out.

The early fall/late summer season looks to be a big one for Apple if the rumors are true, considering the company is also officially launching iOS 8 on September 17. That operating system update comes just in time for the its newest iPhone to actually hit store shelves on September 19. The launch of iOS 8 will also make it that much easier for the release of the iPad Air and Mini 3 because they will both come equipped with the newest OS.

The real question on everyone’s minds is what kind of new features the update tablets will boast. It seems rather obvious both gadgets are going to come complete with Touch ID, something the Cupertino company seems to be moving all its devices towards much the same way they have with the lightning adapters. There have also been rumors the iPad Pro could be coming alongside the Air 2 and Mini 3. This device is said to boast a 12″ screen and directly compete with Microsoft’s Surface Pro.

Apple seems to understand if it really wants to get ahead of the game when it comes to taking on Android and all the other comers, it is going to need to offer up a faster processor. Some believe the A8 processor included in the iPhone 6 will be adapted for the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. Beyond that, these iterations aren’t likely to see big changes. It should be noted neither of the iPhones are really all that revolutionary when compared to other smartphones.

The larger 4.7 and 5.5 -inch screens are certainly a departure for Tim Cook and company, but there are plenty of other Phablets on the market these days. Considering there were a lot of rumors Steve Jobs wasn’t even interested in a phone with a screen like this, some are claiming Apple is actually moving away from its roots. Should the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3 actually launch in October, the lack of brand new features won’t hurt the bottom line or the demand, and that’s good news for a company having a good end to 2014.