https://www.lktechsky.com/2021/07/the-upcoming-ipad-air-to-get-two.html
The next refresh of the iPad Air (5th generation) will adopt the current iPad Pro 11 (2021) chassis, writing the Japanese blog Mac Otakara, based on supply chain information.
Both are already quite similar with square sides and a side-mounted TouchID fingerprint reader. However, the new design will include getting a second camera on the back, an ultra-wide shooter, and possibly a LiDAR sensor. The latter part, however, is unlikely.
Apple will want to maintain some separation between the Air and the Pro. Part of that will be the chipset – the blog only says an Apple A15, aka the iPhone 13 chipset, rather than getting a super-fast M1 like the Pro. Nevertheless, the new chip will feature 5G connectivity, a first for the Air range.
Switching from an IPS LCD screen to an OLED screen is possible because the 11" Pro is supposed to benefit from a mid-cycle refresh with a mini-LED panel. It is also said that the fifth generation of Air will benefit from an upgrade of the speakers, from 2 speakers to 4.
The new iPad mini was supposed to inherit the Air design (but reduced), however, the blog writes that the new mini will retain the overall design of the old model. However, it will be equipped with a larger screen of 8.4 inches (instead of 7.9 inches). Ross Young, who also closely monitors electronics supply chains, more or less confirms this, claiming that the mini will have an 8.3" Screen thanks to thinner glasses and the removal of the Home button.
The first renderings of the iPad mini showing the supposed design based on Air
Thus, the mini will undergo some design changes, even if they are not as extensive as originally expected. However, processing power will be reduced, moving from the Apple A12 of the 2019 model to the Apple A14 of the current iPhone 12 series.
A bigger redesign of the vanilla iPad and iPad mini might not arrive until 2022 or later. It is not known if and when these two models move away from the Lightning port in favor of USB-C, but some sources say that this will happen as early as this next generation.
https://www.lktechsky.com/2021/07/the-upcoming-ipad-air-to-get-two.html