According to the latest rumors, Apple is trying to develop an iPad mini Pro that combines the features of a high-end tablet with a smaller body. And some nice renderings have already been created to show what it could look like.

We firmly expect an update to the current two-year-old iPad mini this year in the form of the iPad mini 6. However, new rumors suggest that it may be changed to a novel design like the iPad Air or iPad Pro, or at least have a much larger display.

The rumor comes from user yeux1122 of Korean blog site Naver, who claims that Apple will produce an 8.7-inch iPad mini Pro and release it in late 2021.

The author does not mention any other features, but states that the redesign will make the new iPad mini shorter and wider than the current model.

He also states that the model is currently in the "P2" stage of production, meaning that it still needs to undergo one more round of testing, but is well on its way to becoming a mass-produced device.

This is not the first rumor about the new iPad mini 2021. Last year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that there would be a new iPad mini model in 2021. His report also suggested that the mini would increase in size from 7.9 inches to between 8.5 inches and 9 inches and get a new chipset.

According to Kuo, the total size will not change significantly even with the larger display, pointing to the possibility of reduced bezels and the elimination of the home button. If that happens, Apple may instead add an iPad Air-style power button with Touch ID or Face ID like the iPad Pro.

Given that the iPad Air redesign removed the home button and shrunk the bezel, it is possible that Apple is planning a similar makeover for the iPad Mini rather than creating a new Pro variant.

In short, it remains to be seen what Apple will come up with. But a new iPad mini of some sort is certainly a strong possibility.

In any case, the Svet Apple renderings below give us an idea of what this iPad mini Pro could look like. The size is 8.9 inches instead of 8.7 inches, so the concept differs slightly from the rumors.

The rendered image of the iPad does not have the same dual camera and LiDAR sensor on the back as the regular-sized Pro, but instead has a single sensor.

From the front, there is no Home button, but no Face ID either. Svet-Apple has decided that this concept will use the Touch ID sensor on the power button instead.

The rendered image is even more similar to the iPad Pro and iPad Air due to the inclusion of a USB-C connector and Apple Pencil 2 support.

Below that is the same A14 chipset and 4GB RAM as found in the iPad Air. The concept offers three storage options: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB.

Svet Apple admits that these rumors may not come to fruition. Instead, there are less ambitious renderings of a new iPad mini that will keep much of its current design intact, only reducing the size of the bezel and home button.

The iPad family occupies several spots on our best tablets list, but the iPad mini is not among them; a premium makeover for the mini could earn Apple another top tablet spot. But equally, a minor refresh would likely satisfy business users with budgets who tend to buy the smallest iPad.