According to the latest rumors, Apple is about to launch its next generation iPad mini. So, what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 launched by Apple more than a year ago? Read on to find out.
Processor and performance
Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codenamed J510/J511) featuring the A19 Pro chip, according to information found in code mistakenly shared by Apple in August.
Apple’s A19 Pro chip has since debuted in the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. The iPhone 17 Pro models include the high-end version of Apple’s A19 Pro chip with a 6-core CPU and 6-core GPU, while the iPhone Air uses a mid-range A19 Pro chip with one fewer GPU core than the A19 Pro chip used in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
If the code leak is accurate for the iPad mini 8, Apple will likely use the mid-range A19 Pro chip found in the iPhone Air. This is based on the fact that the A17 Pro chip used in the iPad mini 7 has a 6-core CPU with two high-performance cores and four efficiency cores, as well as a 5-core GPU, compared to the 6-core GPU found on the A17 Pro used in the iPhone 15 Pro.
Apple built the A19 Pro chip on an improved third-generation 3-nanometer N3P process for modest improvements in speed and efficiency. The chip features a 16-core neural engine, next-generation dynamic caching and unified image compression.
The A19 Pro’s GPU features an improved architecture with a larger cache, more memory, and neural accelerators integrated into each core. Apple claims this change provides 3x the maximum GPU compute compared to the previous generation chip. There is also an improved 16-core neural engine for AI tasks.
There is an outside chance that Apple will opt for the A20 Pro chip for the new iPad mini. The complaint was made by a Woozad tipster who analyzed a macOS kernel debug kit containing internal Apple codenames. However, the iPad mini hasn’t always received Apple’s latest A-series chip at the time of its update, so the A19 Pro can’t be ruled out at the moment. The iPhone 18 Pro models are also expected to use the A20 Pro chip, which is said to be manufactured with TSMC’s advanced 2nm process.
Display
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Apple’s plan to switch the iPad mini from an LCD screen to an OLED screen is the subject of many rumors. According to BloombergAccording to Mark Gurman, the small-format tablet will likely be the next Apple device to adopt OLED. According to a Chinese source with sources in Apple’s supply chain, Apple has been evaluating an OLED display made by Samsung for its next iPad mini model.
It’s not yet clear whether the iPad mini 8 will have a higher refresh rate than the 60Hz LCD screen used in the existing iPad mini 7, but since the new base iPhone 17 now uses a 120Hz ProMotion panel, it would be reasonable to expect the same on the first OLED iPad mini. A separate report suggested that the iPad mini 8 screen size could increase from 8.3 inches to 8.7 inches with the adoption of OLED.
OLED panels can individually control each pixel, resulting in more accurate color reproduction and deeper blacks compared to other common display technologies. They also offer superior contrast, faster response times, better viewing angles and greater design flexibility. All of Apple’s flagship iPhones use OLED panels, and in May 2024, the company first introduced the display technology on the iPad Pro.
Unlike Apple’s iPad Pro models, which feature dual-stack low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) OLED panels, the iPad mini may have a single-stack low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) panel, which would make it dimmer.
Chassis design
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Apple is reportedly working to give the iPad mini 8 a more water-resistant design, according to BloombergIt’s Mark Gurman. The updated case would bring protection levels closer to those of the iPhone, making the tablet safer for use in humid environments.
To achieve this, Apple has reportedly designed a new vibration-based speaker system that eliminates the need for traditional speaker holes. By using noise-emitting surfaces instead of open grilles, the company can reduce potential entry points for water and dust, resulting in a tighter, more durable enclosure.
On the iPhone, Apple relies on adhesives and seals to protect speakers and other openings from moisture. The iPad mini’s approach appears to go further, removing holes altogether. Current iPad mini models don’t have an official IP rating, but the next version could be the first in the line to feature a certified level of water protection.
Apple patents could offer additional clues about the new design direction. For example, a 2014 patent describes a “mechanically actuated panel acoustic system” that vibrates flat surfaces to generate sound, effectively transforming parts of a device’s chassis into a speaker diaphragm. This could potentially allow Apple to produce audio without visible speaker holes. The patent suggests that Apple has been moving for several years towards a waterproof acoustic system based on vibrations.
Release date
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According to research firm Omdia, the iPad mini is expected to adopt an OLED screen in 2027. However, the Korean ET News And ZDNET Korea both suggested that the iPad mini would be updated with an OLED display in 2026. Bloomberg also said that the update could come as soon as this year.
The most recent word on the subject comes from Weibo-based Instant Digital, which claims the iPad mini OLED will launch in the second half of 2026 at the earliest.
In May 2024, it was reported that Samsung Display had begun developing sample OLED panels for a future iPad mini, with plans to begin mass production at its Cheonan factory in the second half of 2025. The same report claimed that Apple would bring an OLED panel to the iPad Air alongside the iPad mini in 2026, although Apple had not refreshed the iPad Air only in March, and more recent reports suggest an OLED iPad Air will arrive early. 2027.
This latest outlook aligns with a December report from analyst firm Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) that said an 8.5-inch OLED iPad mini is planned for launch in 2026, while 11- and 13-inch OLED iPad Air models are expected to follow in 2027.
Ultimately, there are no rumors suggesting exactly when the next iPad mini will be released, but a launch later in 2026 has a high probability.
Prices
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Apple’s iPad mini, featuring OLED display technology and improved water resistance, is expected to be more expensive, and Apple could charge up to $100 more for the device, according to BloombergIt’s Gurman. The iPad mini currently starts at $499. Gurman has previously argued that Apple should consider a lower-end version of the mini, or at least a change from its current $499 starting price, given that it goes up against competing products that cost much less.
However, Apple users looking for a more affordable option should probably consider the 10th generation iPad instead. Starting at $329, the iPad offers many of the features of the iPad mini, such as Touch ID and Center Stage, but at a lower price that balances functionality and affordability.