The new 10.8-inch iPad will launch in late 2020, a notable size change for Apple's flagship tablet. And it will be followed by a new 8.5-inch iPad mini in the first half of 2021, according to Apple oracle and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In his latest research note seen by MacRumors, the often accurate analyst claims that two new variants of the inexpensive iPad will appear: either the 10.8-inch iPad will be a refresh of the 10.5-inch iPad Air or the 10.2-inch iPad replacement model is not clear.

The current "standard" iPad is overdue for a refresh, as it uses the bezel-heavy design that Apple has used on generations of iPads and is powered by a reasonably aged A10 Fusion chip. Apple's latest chips are the A13 Bionic in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro and the A12Z in the iPad Pro 2020.

The iPad Air was last updated in 2019, with the tablet featuring the same design as the 2017 iPad Pro and the A12 Bionic system-on-chip. While still a very capable tablet, it definitely looks a bit dated compared to the iPad Pro tablet with its narrow bezels and Face ID technology.

The same can be said for the iPad mini. Finally, Apple's smallest tablet, refreshed in 2019, also has an A12 Bionic chip, which provides a good amount of power. However, it uses the same chassis design as the original iPad mini from 2012, and the 7.9-inch Retina display feels quite cramped when compared to the bezel-less smartphone from 2020.

Thus, all three of the aforementioned iPads may need a refresh; Kuo predicts that both the 10.8-inch iPad and the 8.5-inch iPad mini will have larger displays than the previous tablet models. If so, they will likely mimic the current iPad Pro design, with significantly narrower bezels, eliminating the physical home button, and adopting Face ID. This would allow both iPads to have larger displays without further increasing their overall size.

It is also expected that Apple will equip the two new iPads with the latest A-series chips, possibly the A14 chip expected to be used in the iPhone 12. And since the iPad lineup seems to be more complex than before, with four models to choose from, it would not surprise me if the 10.8-inch iPad will replace both the current iPad and the iPad Air.

The larger size could also make it easier for the new iPad to compete with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, which has powerful specs and is rumored to come in both 11-inch and 12.4-inch variants. Also, the size of the iPad will be in line with the iPad Pro, which will start at 11 inches.

If Kuo's prediction is correct, the new 10.8-inch iPad will be revealed at the same event as the iPhone 12. Or, Apple may unveil the new iMac 2020 at another launch event in a few weeks.