iPad Air 2 Rumor Roundup

next-generation

is expected to be unveiled at the company's next press event on October 16. One of the

indicates that the iPad Air 2 will be everything consumers anticipate: lighter, thinner and contain a new home button for Touch ID. The tablet's thickness has supposedly been reduced from 7.5 millimeters to just 7 mm. By comparison, the

has a depth of 6.9 mm, while the iPhone 6 Plus comes in at 7.1 mm. It's almost hard to believe that the next iPad could be thinner than an iPhone, but that seems to be the form factor Apple has strived to achieve. Read on to see what else the rumor mill is saying about the next iPad Air.

The gold

was a

when the handset was released last year. Many customers had to wait

to get their gold-colored device. Similar results could be experienced if Apple adds the color to its lineup of tablets. It is not yet known exactly how the next iPad will look, but

claim that a gold version is on the way.

Prices typically remain constant between iDevice releases, but that changed after Apple expanded its tablet lineup. The fourth-generation iPad maintained the starting price of $499, but the 16GB iPad Mini initially started at $329 -- roughly the same price of a 32GB iPod Touch. One year later, Apple launched the iPad Mini with Retina Display at $399. Consumers could purchase an iPad Air for just $100 more. That pricing structure is

to change in 2014, but investors may wonder if Apple will make an adjustment to account for a

. The company has effectively

of the

three years in a row, which may have helped Apple sell more units.

Could the iPad Air 2 be the first iPad that is easy to view outdoors? If a

is correct, the answer is yes. According to the report, Apple may be using an "anti-reflection coating" that will make the display easier to read. Unfortunately, Bloomberg also said that the coating may have caused manufacturing complications that could restrict supply output.

Could Apple release the iPad Air in a larger size? Rumors insist that one is coming

, but other reports warn that the large tablet

before 2015.

Apple Pay is already coming to the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch -- and it could also come to the

as well. While some consumers may not want to pay for items with a tablet, many individuals already carry their iPads wherever they go. Apple Pay would be perfect for those users, but may not sway consumers who prefer to leave their tablets in the car. Disclosure: