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Apple Event In Mid-October Planned For iPad Mini 3, Air 2, OS X Yosemite Launch

Apple's next big event is only a month away, Bloomberg reports.

Fresh off the recent unveilings of two new iPhones, the 6 and 6 Plus, and the first-ever Apple Watch, the Cupertino-based tech giant is reportedly planning an event dedicated to the debuts of two new iPads.

The new iPads are believed to be refreshes of the Air line and Mini line, dubbed the "Air 2" and "Mini 3." Apple suppliers have reportedly kicked off manufacturing of the next-generation Air and were set to enter production of the new Mini last month, Bloomberg's sources familiar with Apple's plans informed them.

The sources also claimed that Apple was preparing a 12.9-inch tablet, rumored to be named the "iPad Pro," for manufacturing, with production scheduled for the first quarter of next year.

Apple's next-gen OS X, Yosemite, is also expected to launch following the event.

The new iPads would be a crucial addition to the Cupertino-based company's lineup for the holiday shopping season, especially considering sales of tablets have dropped for two straight quarters.

According to an earlier report, the Air 2 will feature the same design as its predecessor, but will come equipped with a new Apple A8 chip (compared to the A7 in the Air) and a better 8MP camera.

See Also: iPad Air 2's Protective Case Leaks with Mysterious Opening Near Camera Hole

The A8 chip will allegedly bring with it a 50 percent increase in performance, iClarified notes. The device's display, meanwhile, will be made by LG, Samsung and Sharp, with the former being the first to start making the displays, which will reportedly be a 9.7-inch LCD with the same resolution (2048x1536) as the current Air.

Well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities has stated he believes the Air 2 will offer an A8 chip built by TSMC, Touch ID fingerprint security and an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera.

Specs details for the Mini 3 have been sparse, but it also expected to arrive with Touch ID, an Apple A8 and an improved camera.

Rumors about Touch ID's debut on an iPad have been tossed around basically since the release of the 5S and it would make sense for Apple to add the useful feature into its next wave of tablets, especially with the recent unveiling of the company's mobile payment system, Apple Pay.