Apple's next-generation iPad lineup, i.e. the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3, is expected to come with the new Apple Pay system the company recently introduced.

Judging by Apple's previous launch schedules, the September launch of the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus should be followed by an October unveiling of new iPads. Apple is rumored to be holding an iPad press event next month, where it is expected to take the wraps off its new-generation iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 tablets with Retina displays.

In terms of design, the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3 should look similar to the current models, but a number of notable changes under the hood should grace each device.

First of all, the 2014 iPad models are expected to launch as the first Apple tablets to boast a built-in fingerprint sensor. The iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 should come with the Touch ID technology Apple introduced last year with its iPhone 5S, as well as the new Apple Pay introduced recently with the latest iPhone 6 models.

Apple is rumored to formally launch its new Apple Pay sometime next month, and the payment system is expected to come enabled on iPhone 6 smartphones once iOS 8.1 is up and running.

When it comes to the next-generation iPads, meanwhile, Apple's newly-released iOS 8.1 developer beta includes an intriguing reference to Touch ID on the iPad. As Cult of Mac points out, developer Hamza Sood has just tweeted his findings in this regards. It's worth highlighting that Sood has previously found hidden references in iOS betas.

"Looks like the next iPad is getting Touch ID," reads one tweet from the developer. "For the confused: Apple Pay on iPad with Touch ID is just for purchasing things through apps. Not NFC or anything like that," Sood clarified in a subsequent tweet.

In other words, it looks like the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3 will come with iOS 8.1 out of the box, complete with Touch ID and Apple Pay functionality, but not NFC.

In addition to the fingerprint sensor and related features, both the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3 are expected to pack Apple's latest A8 processor under the hood, as well as some higher-end cameras on board. Apple is expected to unveil both models in October and make them commercially available by the end of the month.

Keep in mind, however, that nothing is officially confirmed at this point, so take this news with a grain of salt.