Updated iPad mini 6 may not launch until late 2021

As part of a note to investors detailing Apple's work on a foldable iPhone, TF Securities' analyst Ming-Chi Kuo added a small detail toward the end about a different product. In a line towards the end of the note, Kuo offers the new iPad mini could appear far later than anticipated.

In mentioning the exit of O-Film from Apple's supply chain potentially helping TPK's iPad business, Kuo adds a number of other factors that will benefit the supplier. The list includes "the adoption of mini-LED and OLED technology to drive shipments, working/studying from home, and 2H21 new iPad mini to drive demand."

If correct, this puts the launch of an "iPad mini 6" as happening from July 2021 at the earliest.

Rumors at the start of 2021 had Apple preparing a new generation of iPad mini, for what would have initially been a March launch. No iPad mini refresh took place during April's "Spring Loaded" event either, leaving a launch of a new model in the first half of 2021 in doubt.

The model was anticipated to have a larger 8.4-inch display, up from 7.9 inches, as well as a design inspired by the 2019 iPad Air. Apple's last refresh, the iPad mini 5 in March 2019, kept the design the same as its 2015 predecessor, but improved the internal specification and added Apple Pencil support.

Kuo previously forecast in May 2020 that Apple would introduce a new iPad mini with a screen between 8.5 inches and 9 inches in size in the first half of the 2021 calendar year.

An image leak of iPad Pro and iPad mini dummy cases in April suggested there wasn't going to be any major changes to the physical size of the tablet, despite having a larger screen.