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Apple's 2026 iPad Mini Could Be Water Resistant Like the iPhone

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Apple is working on a version of the iPad mini that has a more water resistant design, reports Bloomberg. The iPad mini's updated casing would offer water resistance similar to the iPhone, making it safe for casual use in wet environments like a bath or a pool area.

ipad-mini-7-new-blue.jpeg

Apple created a new speaker system for the iPad mini that uses vibration-based technology, allowing for the speaker holes in the device to be removed. Removing the speaker holes would cut down on areas where water could get into the crevices of the iPad mini.

For the iPhone, Apple uses adhesive and gaskets to protect the speaker holes and other ingress points from water intrusion, so the iPad mini's design would be different. The current iPad mini does not have an official water resistance rating and it is not safe to get it wet.

While the iPhone has IP68 water resistance that allows it to withstand submersion in water up to six meters deep for 30 minutes, it is not yet known what IP rating the iPad mini might feature.

The next-generation version of the iPad mini could also feature an OLED display, with the update coming as soon as 2026. Apple last refreshed the iPad mini in 2024 with the 7th-generation model.

Apple's iPad mini with OLED display technology and improved water resistance is expected to be more expensive, and Apple could charge up to $100 more for the device. The iPad mini is currently priced starting at $499.

Article Link: Apple's 2026 iPad Mini Could Be Water Resistant Like the iPhone
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/10/28/ipad-mini-water-resistance/
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As long as the next iPad Mini gets a decent display (OLED or not) compared to the last 2, I may be back in the market for one. The waterproofing issue is not a big deal to me. I would never use one of these devices by water, I don't care what amount of waterproofing is promised by Apple.
 
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Put in a cell chip (the C1, why not) and give it a proper phone app, and you’ll start seeing people with those in the commute… and everywhere. Even for phoning other people.

The concept of a pocketable phone is slowly dying… I guess we’ll have to get used to go around with a purse or something…
 
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ah another rumor by “journalist” Mark Gurman, the same guy who claimed the iPad Pro M5 would get 2 front facing cameras. Now this again… how on earth are people still giving him credibility is beyond me…
 
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I have bought the iPad mini a few times, always feeling perhaps I am missing something for not enjoying the experience. But fundamentally I think the size and aspect ratio is not right. The UI does not scale right in my opinion.

With the 11" feeling like the sweet spot for most everything, specially with a Magic Keyboard. I think It's time to completely rethink the mini. I always tend to give up on it and just go back to using the iPhone Pro Max for anything I thought I would use the mini for.

I do not think it's ergonomic, and the UI doesn't work for that size and aspect ratio. Perhaps slightly taller and narrower as the phones have proved the correct ratio for handheld devices. I would rather see a modified iPhone UI than an iPad UI for the mini. I can definitely see why it doesn't sell well. The use case for such a device is fantastic, but the execution of It is fundamentally flawed.
 
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rp2011 said:
I have bought the iPad mini a few times, always feeling perhaps I am missing something for not enjoying the experience. But fundamentally I think the size and aspect ratio is not right. The UI does not scale right in my opinion.

With the 11" feeling like the sweet spot for most everything, specially with a Magic Keyboard. I think It's time to completely rethink the mini. I always tend to give up on it and just go back to using the iPhone Pro Max for anything I thought I would use the mini for.

I do not think it's ergonomic, and the UI doesn't work for that size and aspect ratio. Perhaps slightly taller and narrower as the phones have proved the correct ratio for handheld devices. I would rather see a modified iPhone UI than an iPad UI for the mini. I can definitely see why it doesn't sell well. The use case for such a device is fantastic, but the execution of It is fundamentally flawed.
Click to expand...
how? its the perfect size to read books, bring around conferences to take notes and check out recipes in the kitchen (thats where mine lives)

Theres other sizes for other needs, i think everything over a mini is way too ackward to use and if youre gonna use a keyboard, might as well get a macbook
 
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MacUserFella said:
Finally! Now I can use my iPhone, Apple Watch, and my iPad in the shower!
Click to expand...
I actually do listen to Youtube interviews etc while I get ready and wash up in the morning, even in the shower. I have a shower bluetooth speaker and everything 😆 So I'm glad for a waterproof iPad Mini.
 
People joke about this, but I often use my iPad to read on in the summer...my summer is mostly surrounded by water. I'm not gonna swim with it, but there a chance I could float in the pool with it or it gets knocked into the lake on accident. My mom lost a kindle last year when it got knocked off the pier into the water. I'd like a water resistant mini.
 
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rp2011 said:
I have bought the iPad mini a few times, always feeling perhaps I am missing something for not enjoying the experience. But fundamentally I think the size and aspect ratio is not right. The UI does not scale right in my opinion.

With the 11" feeling like the sweet spot for most everything, specially with a Magic Keyboard. I think It's time to completely rethink the mini. I always tend to give up on it and just go back to using the iPhone Pro Max for anything I thought I would use the mini for.

I do not think it's ergonomic, and the UI doesn't work for that size and aspect ratio. Perhaps slightly taller and narrower as the phones have proved the correct ratio for handheld devices. I would rather see a modified iPhone UI than an iPad UI for the mini. I can definitely see why it doesn't sell well. The use case for such a device is fantastic, but the execution of It is fundamentally flawed.
Click to expand...
I have the same feeling—while it performs limited tasks decently enough and is oddly adorable, the UI is just a tad too small for comfort and the sizes practically demand two hands. (Then again, I also grouse continually that the iPhones have long been far too large.) Jobs opposed a smaller iPad and the 7.9" shipped after his death; we may never know how much significant input he had time to give, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was another point on which he was right all along.
 
Regarding earlier posts about the size of the Mini, I much prefer this size over the larger ones--indeed, I only use my 11" iPad if I have to fly somewhere and want a larger screen for movies. I use my Mini at home for at least two hours a day at home. I know it won't happen, but I would be willing to pay a premium price for a Mini Pro--heck, I'd probably even pay the same price charged for an 11" Pro. It would be worth it to me.
 
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rp2011 said:
I have bought the iPad mini a few times, always feeling perhaps I am missing something for not enjoying the experience. But fundamentally I think the size and aspect ratio is not right. The UI does not scale right in my opinion.

With the 11" feeling like the sweet spot for most everything, specially with a Magic Keyboard. I think It's time to completely rethink the mini. I always tend to give up on it and just go back to using the iPhone Pro Max for anything I thought I would use the mini for.

I do not think it's ergonomic, and the UI doesn't work for that size and aspect ratio. Perhaps slightly taller and narrower as the phones have proved the correct ratio for handheld devices. I would rather see a modified iPhone UI than an iPad UI for the mini. I can definitely see why it doesn't sell well. The use case for such a device is fantastic, but the execution of It is fundamentally flawed.
Click to expand...
Software should adjust to desired form factor, not the other way around.

The Mini's form factor is a great size and aspect ratio and weight for those who like it. It's subjective. Personally, I can't stand ~11"--I find it too small for productivity, and too big/heavy for casual consumption. I never liked that middle ground size, including the original 9.7" iPad. It wasn't until the original 7.9" Mini came out that I started to appreciate iPads. I bought one immediately and it has since been my most used device. I also eventually got a 13" for productivity, but it's almost exclusively used with a keyboard or Pencil.
The other reason you may not like the Mini is that you have a Pro Max iPhone. There is more overlap in functionality for you, although some PM users still like having an iPad Mini.
 
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rp2011 said:
I can definitely see why it doesn't sell well.
Click to expand...

Does it not sell well? It’s about to hit its 8th generation. If we use iPhone mini as a comparison, Apple isn’t afraid to kill off devices that supposedly don’t sell well, so I suspect the mini sells just fine.

I have an iPad Mini 6 and I absolutely love it. I’ve had a bunch of iPad’s and the big ones are just too cumbersome to use, especially one handed. I really think the mini is the perfect size.

Stick a moft stand on the back and it’s the ideal consumption device!
 
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ZZ9pluralZalpha said:
I have the same feeling—while it performs limited tasks decently enough and is oddly adorable, the UI is just a tad too small for comfort and the sizes practically demand two hands. (Then again, I also grouse continually that the iPhones have long been far too large.) Jobs opposed a smaller iPad and the 7.9" shipped after his death; we may never know how much significant input he had time to give, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was another point on which he was right all along.
Click to expand...
On the other hand…
www.macrumors.com

Eddy Cue Worked to Convince Steve Jobs of Need for 7-Inch iPad in Early 2011

Back in October 2010, Steve Jobs appeared on an Apple earnings conference call to address the Android-based iPad competitors that were just then...
www.macrumors.com www.macrumors.com
The first iPad mini literally only came out 12 months after his death and had prototypes going all the way back to 2010.
Also signs of the 7.85 inch screen that the first generation iPad mini used started appearing as early as the iOS 5 Beta cycle, when Steve was very much alive.
It’s very likely that, outside of final decisions, he approved everything related to the first generation, and the second generation, iPad mini.
Also he frequently contradicted himself a lot, saying that there would be no video on an iPod because it’s stupid… a year before announcing the video iPod, saying that e-readers would fail while actively in talks with book publishers for the iBooks Store, trashing flash storage literally months before introducing the iPod Nano.
 
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Lounge vibes 05 said:
On the other hand…
www.macrumors.com

Eddy Cue Worked to Convince Steve Jobs of Need for 7-Inch iPad in Early 2011

Back in October 2010, Steve Jobs appeared on an Apple earnings conference call to address the Android-based iPad competitors that were just then...
www.macrumors.com www.macrumors.com
The first iPad mini literally only came out 12 months after his death and had prototypes going all the way back to 2010.
Also signs of the 7.85 inch screen that the first generation iPad mini used started appearing as early as the iOS 5 Beta cycle, when Steve was very much alive.
It’s very likely that, outside of final decisions, he approved everything related to the first generation, and the second generation, iPad mini.
Also he frequently contradicted himself a lot, saying that there would be no video on an iPod because it’s stupid… a year before announcing the video iPod, saying that e-readers would fail while actively in talks with book publishers for the iBooks Store, trashing flash storage literally months before introducing the iPod Nano.
Click to expand...
While that's all true, the article I linked seems to suggest that the iPad mini's interface software was the last obstacle and wasn't surmounted—by basically bunting—until after Jobs' death. And while many reports have said Steve remained very involved in work during his leaves, it's hard to believe he was managing exactly the same famous level of hands-on interaction. (The phrasing of the Eddy Cue email quoted in your linked article—thanks, that was interesting!—gives me the same feeling.)
 
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