With reviews of Apple's new small tablet - the iPad Mini 3 - revealing that the device its essentially the same as its predecessor, the iPad Mini 2, it is being speculated that Apple may discontinue its small tablet lineup; and the iPad Mini 3 could possibly be the last 7.9-inch iPad Mini tablet.

The introduction of iPad Mini 3 - along with new iPad Air 2 - by Apple in October reportedly left the Internet stunned because of the level of sameness between the new iPad Mini and the existing model.

Technically, the new iPad Mini 3 was quite identical to the iPad Mini 2, except for the addition of Touch ID and a new color option --- gold.

However, with the retail cost of the new iPad Mini 3 being $110 more than that of iPad Mini 2, Apple has boldly defended the asking price of the new small tablet with the declaration that the introduction of Touch ID on the new device is more than enough to justify its higher price-tag than its predecessor.

Meanwhile, with the latest iPhone 6 Plus phablet featuring an impressive 5.5-inch screen display, it is being rumored that Apple will probably drop the iPad Mini tablet lineup; especially since the iPhone 6 Plus successors will probably be equipped with even bigger screens.