Apple fans will get what they've been asking for a few months from now - an iPad Mini 2 with Retina display technology, which will be immediately refreshed by Q1 2014 with the iPad Mini 3, also with Retina.

This according to NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim, who told CNET in an interview that Apple could be unleashing quick successions of the smaller iPad edition following reports of delay due to screen display issues.

"We see two refreshes coming. One in the second half of this year, then one in Q1 of 2014," Mr Shim said.

His note indicated too that the 7.9-inch iPad will be endowed with higher processing might as among the key upgrades for the iPad Mini 3. No other spec details were provided but it is highly possible that the Mini 2 will only reflect a minor bump up save for the Retina deployment.

Earlier, KGI Securities has predicted that Apple will be compelled to release a cheaper version of the iPad Mini in the coming months to keep up with its update cycle while resolving the challenges of scaling Retina display to the Mini screen size.

Retina on tablet is originally designed for the original iPad, which has a screen size of 9.7-inch.

To solve the Retina display problem on the iPad Mini, it is likely that Apple will try out the low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) display that was used in iPhone 5, Mr Shim offered.

Yet with this technology, Apple engineers will have to scale up as oppose to the puzzle of scaling down Retina from a bigger screen without trade offs.

The jump to Retina, however, could impact on the overall design of the upcoming iPad Mini, which according to Gotta Be Mobile could come out as thicker and heavier compared to the first generation release.

Despite the upgrade, Apple is not expected to alter the starting price for the iPad Mini 2. Its predecessor debuted with a price tag of $US329 - not exactly the cheaper among its class but it turned out as the bestseller.

But the short upgrade cycle could affect the sales performance of the Mini 2, according to BGR News, as buyers might hold off upgrading to wait for the more powerful iPad Mini 3.