Next iPad mini Tipped for A20 Pro Chip as 9to5Mac Pushes for Split-Screen Video Multitasking

In the report, 9to5Mac described the chip and display changes as strong upgrades but said its most wanted addition to the next iPad mini is a software feature rather than a hardware one. After observing Apple's iPhone Duo, the outlet said it was struck by how effectively the company handles multitasking on that device, and that multitasking on the iPad has long felt like a mess by comparison.

The outlet argued that proper windowing has never suited a screen as small as the iPad mini's, where users are unlikely to overlap many windows. Its preferred solution is for Apple to carry over one capability from the iPhone Duo: split screen combined with picture-in-picture.

According to the report, the iPad mini currently offers no way to make a picture-in-picture window occupy the full width of the device in portrait orientation. Even if such an option existed, the outlet said, the window would either cover part of an app or would require manual sizing through windowing.

Because the iPhone Duo and the iPad mini share similar aspect ratios, 9to5Mac called bringing video and app split view to the iPad mini an obvious step. The author of the piece said he would use an iPad mini in portrait orientation far more often if the feature were available.

The report is an opinion piece published by 9to5Mac, and its conclusions about the device's software direction reflect the outlet's own view. The hardware details attributed to the leak come from Aaron Perris, who published the A20 Pro chip and thinner-bezel information last week, while the OLED and water-resistance features were previously reported.

Apple has not publicly confirmed the specifications, software features or release timing of the next iPad mini.