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Apple Reportedly Developing OLED iPad Mini for 2026

I’ve grown accustomed to the ipad mini being the forgotten stepchild of the iPad family…but this is getting ridiculous. Since it was first introduced in 2012, the iPad mini usually got updated at the most every 2 yrs. Well, It’s been 3 years already…and now this rumor says 2026 For the next update? That would be 5 years. I think that would be a bit much…even for the iPad mini. My gut tells me the mini will finally be updated this September. It’ll get a faster chip and a faster refresh rate to get rid of the jelly scroll issue. Perhaps it will get updated again in 2026 with an OLED screen. That would bring it back to a two year update cycle. That makes more sense. Altho as an artist, i do hope the ipad mini update this year includes the use of the apple pencil pro. As an artist, i love my ipad pro, but the ipad mini is my favorite digital sketchbook when i really want to travel light.
 
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Greenmeenie said:
I’ve grown accustomed to the ipad mini being the forgotten stepchild of the iPad family…but this is getting ridiculous. Since it was first introduced in 2012, the iPad mini usually got updated at the most every 2 yrs. Well, It’s been 3 years already…and now this rumor says 2026 For the next update? That would be 5 years. I think that would be a bit much…even for the iPad mini. My gut tells me the mini will finally be updated this September.
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No, the article does not say the next iPad mini will be in 2026. It says the OLED model is 2026.
 
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tobybrut said:
ProMotion is not 120Hz. It is a variable refresh rate, not a fixed one. There are very few cheap devices, if any, on the market that have variable refresh rates. In the case of the iPhone Pro models, it goes from 10Hz to 120Hz but has a special 1Hz mode. That 1Hz is why there is an always-on display. In the case of the new iPads, it’s 10Hz to 120Hz without a 1Hz mode, not sufficient for an AOD.

Apple has never produced a 120Hz only display and they may never do that, so there is no real comparison to those cheap devices with high frequencies. This will apply to the iPad mini and the iPad Air. If they can’t produce an inexpensive enough panel to have a variable refresh rate, they won’t do it at all and will leave it at 60Hz.
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Like someone else commented before you typed this, getting 120hz is a lot more significant to most people than variable refresh rates are.
 
OLED would be nice some day although I'm quite happy with my current Mini 6. All I use it for is reading and watching movies when I travel. Gave up trying to do anything work related on iPadOS some time ago.
 
tobybrut said:
ProMotion is not 120Hz. It is a variable refresh rate, not a fixed one. There are very few cheap devices, if any, on the market that have variable refresh rates. In the case of the iPhone Pro models, it goes from 10Hz to 120Hz but has a special 1Hz mode. That 1Hz is why there is an always-on display. In the case of the new iPads, it’s 10Hz to 120Hz without a 1Hz mode, not sufficient for an AOD.

Apple has never produced a 120Hz only display and they may never do that, so there is no real comparison to those cheap devices with high frequencies. This will apply to the iPad mini and the iPad Air. If they can’t produce an inexpensive enough panel to have a variable refresh rate, they won’t do it at all and will leave it at 60Hz.
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I used a simplification in my post to make it shorter. What you are saying is correct.

In June 2017 when ProMotion was introduced, it was a highly advanced software+hardware feature and there was nothing wrong when Apple considered this as a premium feature back then. Problem is that now its 2024 and if this report is correct, it will take from 9 to 10 years for Apple to bring this feature into other non-pro iPad model.

To bring more perspective, original iPad was introduced in 2010 and original iPad mini in 2012. First iPad with retina display was introduced in November 2012. First iPad mini with retina display was introduced year later in 2013. One year and 10 years is extreme difference.

As of right now, iPad mini 6 with 256 GB and GPS module costs 939 EUR in Europe. 939 EUR for a device with intentionally crippled display technology with jelly scrolling and based on the reports iPad mini 7 will be the same. Because some Apple high exec decided and we learned to accept Apples laziness.

In my opinion, you cannot call more advanced display technology as a premium-only feature for 10 years and in addition to this its mind boggling to me why we still accept after 14 years that basic wireless iPad does not include GPS module and you have to pay another 170 EUR for it.

Dont know about you, your opinion may vary and I respect it, but even though I love Apple products and make a living on them, I find this lazy and unacceptable.
 
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I love the ipad mini even with it's below par screen and 60hz. Hell i choose it ahead of a foldable with far better specs. ipad mini 6 with oled would be great. it needs higher refresh rate though
 
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jdclifford said:
Why will it take another 2 years before an OLED iPad mini? Isn’t that a lot of lead time? Is Apple just starting to develop are we to expect nothing between now and then? “Innovation my ass”. Wake up Tim.
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likely because when they upgrade it this year it won't be released again until this
 
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EugW said:
I have the Logitech K380. The key spacings of the K380 and the 11" Magic Keyboard are exactly the same, at 18.0 mm.

Or at least the old 11" MK is 18.0 mm. After inspecting it next to the other models in the store, I believe the new 2024 11" MK is also 18.0 mm, but I didn't have a ruler handy to measure exactly. The key spacing for the 13" MK and for all the Macs is 19.0 mm. According to usual ergonomic guidelines, recommend key spacing is from 18 to 19 mm. Once you go below 18 mm (or according to some, below 17.8 mm), it can negatively affect typing speed, and it can cause additional strain.

The 9.7" iPad Pro's Smart Keyboard has a key spacing of 17.5 mm, and that one truly feels a bit cramped IMO.
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The 11” MKB just feels ever so slightly too cramped to me. I don’t have any issues with the K380. I’m sure I’d be find with the keyboard of the 13” MKB. Only issue would be is that it still doesn’t balance well when trying to use an iPad Pro with the MKB attached on one’s lap.
 
cdsapplefan said:
Kuo or some analyst report said we won’t get new a new iPad Mini until toward the end of 2024. Apple just released a host of new iPads this month so they would not want a all new Mini to cannabilize those sales. The report also said the new Mini at the end of 2024 will just be a spec bump and nothing else. 2026 will be OLED iPad Mini with another spec bump, but nothing special.

The iPad Mini may sell a lot but it is really not seen as priority by Apple
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It always blows my mind that a company the size of Apple does not have the resources or attention span to treat every product as a potential world class product. The leadership at Apple is just miserable beyond words. The company is clearly in terminal decline.
 
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Cirillo Gherardo said:
They could add Pro Motion, and Face ID, and OLED. And then it would cost $800, and no one would buy it because no sane person would pay $800 for an iPad that small.
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120hz refresh rate is offered standard by most other vendors as is oled and stylus included. Why is it so hard for Apple to not offer the same? Pay about $ 100,- more for the brand name. If Apple wants to be a premium brand at least offer tech on pair or above to justify it.
 
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Falhófnir said:
Nice to see HDR capable displays trickling down to the mid/"Air" tier products - I thought it would be via miniLED as a hand-me-down tech from the Pros, but looks like they are going to go all in on OLED.
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Apple is, as usual, slow to the party. It is standard for years for other brands. Same panels. Apple waits a few years… give it a fancy name… put a PRO behind it and voila… the not so technical buyers believe they’ve something “amazing” and as Timmy says: you’ll only see this coming from Apple. Indeed other brand vendors are treating their customers more transparently.
 
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Eric Idle said:
It always blows my mind that a company the size of Apple does not have the resources or attention span to treat every product as a potential world class product. The leadership at Apple is just miserable beyond words. The company is clearly in terminal decline.
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They have the resources and attention span
As you said .. leadership is the problem

They aren't worried about making the best products they can up and down the lineup and price tiers.

The whole company is a big nickel and dime operation now thanks to the "Ops Guy" in charge.
 
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I do love the iPad Mini size, but as more of a casual user I wish there was a more basic version of it -- something that costs less than the entry-level regular iPad. I just use mine for some very casual gaming, reading a few things, following along with a recipe in the kitchen, and handing off to the kid to watch video on road trips. Don't need the high end screen, etc.
 
jdclifford said:
Why will it take another 2 years before an OLED iPad mini? Isn’t that a lot of lead time? Is Apple just starting to develop are we to expect nothing between now and then? “Innovation my ass”. Wake up Tim.
Click to expand...

This is normal. Every Apple hardware device that we buy was in development for at least 1-2 years. Design, development, testing, suppliers, manufacturing, packaging, support resources... it all takes time to execute.

Apple is not starting the next iPhome in October the month after they announce in September. The next iPhone (two Septembers from now) is already under development today.

The rumor mill is just getting better at tracking these hidden details.
 
I might have to give up on the iPad if the mini isn't coming out until 2026. My current mini is old and ready to be upgraded now. Sadly, they will force me onto another platform for their slow walking the only iPad I desire. The full size ones are too big
 
WOW, OLED - that is such an innovation after what 10 years of the tech being mainstream? Whatever next, maybe touchscreen laptops?
 
The Apple way, always holding a carrot stick in front of you. Could they give you an all screen iPhone? Of course! But why do that!? They can hold a carrot stick and tell you they will release it instead in 3 years. Same with iPads, can they give you an iPad mini with OLED? Of course they can but instead you get a carrot on a stick instead. I really hate apple for this. The new ipads STILL have huge bezels. It’s 2024 apple! These should be bezel-less by now. Greedy Apple!
 
I use my ipad mini 6 recently again for duolingo. But the jello screen, attrociously horrible camera etc makes it feel like i got cheated out of my hard earned money very hard.

I dont think i will buy another ipad anymore, i have owned them since the first release.
Thirdparty ipad app support is lackluster too many apps i need to use still dont have a dedicated ipad app, the market for them to develop such app is too small, so stuck with a iphone app on a ipad.....
 
CloneBB said:
With size of the pro max phone, i have no use for a mini iPad.
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This!!

Plus ipad`s always have half assed 3th party support, not everyone develops dedicated ipad apps anymore due costs.

Not apples fault, but a logical occurrence when the iPhone dominates with the most active users of applications.
 
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