The second-generation Retina iPad Mini is apparently set to debut alongside the iPad Air 2 this Thursday, Oct. 16, according to a new report.

Apple has scheduled a special press event for Oct. 16, where it is expected to unveil the rest of its 2014 product lineup. The iPad Air 2 has leaked extensively so far ahead of its expected debut, but information has been scarce regarding the smaller iPad.

While at first Apple was expected to unveil new iPad Air and Retina iPad Mini tablets at the same time at its upcoming event, reports claimed at some point that the new iPad Mini may debut later on, in early 2015, before the rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Reports also suggested that the next iPad Mini would see only minor upgrades such as Touch ID.

It's worth pointing out that this would be the third-generation iPad Mini, but the second-generation iPad Mini with Retina display, which is why it is referred to as the "Retina iPad Mini 2."

Many still expect the Retina iPad Mini 2 to debut alongside the iPad Air 2 at Apple's Oct. 16 event, and be very similar in terms of specifications except for the display size.

A new report from Japanese publication Mac Otakara (translated) now claims that the second-generation Retina iPad Mini would indeed make its official debut on Oct. 16, alongside the iPad Air 2, and Apple may also update its Smart Cover and Smart Case lineup of accessories with new colors, as well as a tweaked design that would be compatible with the new-generation iPads.

The Retina iPad Mini 2 is expected to come with a Touch ID fingerprint reader and an A8 processor, whereas the iPad Air 2 will reportedly boast more notable upgrades such as a faster A8X processor, 2GB of RAM, and a new gold color option, in addition to Touch ID functionality.

Keep in mind that it's all in the rumor state for now, so it is best to treat such leaks and reports with a hefty grain of salt. With Apple's press event just around the corner, however, we'll soon get the official scoop straight from the source. Apple will also be live streaming its event, so you can check it out for yourself at this link. It's worth pointing out that live streaming video requires Safari 5.1.10 or later on OS X v10.6.8 or later, Safari on iOS 6.0 or later. Live streaming via Apple TV requires second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later.