Despite the lack of an official announcement, gadget freaks believe that the iPad Mini 5 will be released next year.

Rumors are rife that the highly anticipated iPad Mini will feature a 3D touch technology. Rumors also claim that if it arrives before September, it will come with iOS 10, but if launched after September, it will have OS 11.

Apple's upcoming Next-Gen tablet is said to have an A9 or A10 chipset and will sport a 12MP rear camera equipped with True Tone flash technology. The tablet will be available in two storage variants bearing internal memories of 32GB and 128GB.

In addition, the iPad Mini 5 will come with a Smart Connector, quad speakers, and many are even hopeful that Apple will retain the 3.5mm headphone stereo jack, NeuroGadget reported. The tablet will be available in three screen sizes including 9.7-inch, 10.1-inch and 12.9-inch.

Meanwhile, tech gurus claim that Apple is still concentrating on their upcoming MacBook Pro 2016 which is expected to be launched this year. Rumors doing rounds indicate that the high-end laptop is one of the main reasons why iPad Mini 5's release date keeps on being pushed.

Nevertheless, some tech enthusiasts still believe that the iPad Mini 5 release date will coincide with the iPad Pro 2 launch. Some fans are confident that the Cupertino based tech firm might be launching these two devices in early 2016, according to The Reporter Times.

Another report claims that Apple will release the iPad Pro 2 alongside the much-awaited launch of the iPad Mini 5 in March 2017.

None of this has been officially confirmed, but optimistic fans are looking forward to some good information on the upcoming devices, including the Macbook Pro launch, on the Oct. 25 event of the company's Q4 earning calls.

As far as specs are concerned, the iPad Mini 5 is expected to sport a 7.9 inches Retina display just like its predecessor. Its exterior will feature 7000 series aluminium covering, which further enhances the durability of the tablet.

Stay tuned in here for more updates!