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iPad Mini 8: Four Major New Features to Expect

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Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini is highly likely to arrive next year, offering a significant refresh of the device with at least four major new features.

ipad-mini-7-feature-red-and-blue.jpg


OLED Display

The next-generation version of the iPad mini could feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, followed by the iPhone in 2017 and the iPad Pro in 2024. It now apparently plans to bring the technology to more devices, such as the iPad Air, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, and could start with the iPad mini next year.

The current iPad mini has a Liquid Retina LCD display, just like the iPad Air. OLED offers higher contrast with true blacks, wider viewing angles, faster response times, better efficiency, and generally better perceived picture quality than LCD.

A19 Pro Chip

The current iPad mini came out in 2024, with the main upgrade over the previous version being the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support. The previous generation introduced a complete redesign and the A15 Bionic chip.

In August, Apple mistakenly shared code that revealed key information about the next-generation iPad mini with the codename J510/J511: The device features the A19 Pro chip, which is used in the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The current iPad mini uses a version of the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro with a five-core GPU. The A19 Pro used in the iPhone Air also has a five-core GPU, as opposed to the full six-core version in the iPhone 17 Pro models, so it seems likely that this binned version of the chip will be the one used in the next iPad mini.

Water-Resistant Design

Bloomberg claims that Apple is working on a version of the iPad mini that has a more water resistant design, making it the first iPad with a water resistance rating.

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 iPad mini's updated casing is expected to offer water resistance similar to the iPhone, making it safe for casual use in wet environments like a bath or a pool area.

Redesigned Speaker System

Apple has reportedly developed 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.

Release Date and Price

There are no specific rumors about when the next iPad mini will be released, but a launch alongside new iPad Air models in the first half of 2026 seems likely. With an OLED display, water resistance, a new speaker system, and a faster chip, the device 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: iPad Mini 8: Four Major New Features to Expect
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/19/ipad-mini-8-four-new-features-to-expect/
I literally upgraded from a 6 to 7 on the promise of AI, and I'm still waiting for them. Will Apple have any sort of compensation for us suckers who fell for their false advertising when they make the 7 outdated?
 
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I hope they put the new FaceTime camera from the iPhone 17 series into the Mini. It’s a really nice quality of life upgrade. I’m holding off on any new devices until they put something similar into them.

(We have iPads and iPhones with Center Stage. The 18 MP camera is still a good upgrade even from those.)
 
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I'm about to buy the iPad Pro just for ProMotion, but I'm undecided whether to wait for the new mini or the air if they will have 120hz
 
If it had the ability to extend the screen at 4K that would be a complete game changer. Could connect it to my ViewSonic 4K-OLED portable display and have the best of three worlds - 1) iPad Mini, 2) Large iPad with Extended Screen for iPadOS 26 and 3) Laptop Functionality with Jump Desktop and Windows Mobile to connect to MacOS (my Mac Mini at home) and Windows 365.

Right now I use my 11” M4 iPad Pro for 2 and 3 but would love to leave it behind and only carry a Mini.
 
I want an iPad Mini so bad. I'm buying the next one. I hope it has Promotion, alongside all of these other things.
 
MacRumors said:




A19 Pro Chip
~
The current iPad mini uses a version of the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro with a five-core GPU. The A19 Pro used in the iPhone Air also has a five-core GPU, as opposed to the full six-core version in the iPhone 17 Pro models, so it seems likely that this binned version of the chip will be the one used in the next iPad mini.
Click to expand...
i'm guessing Apple has a whole heap of now not required binned A19 Pro chips ;)
 
I love my Mini 7. I stepped down in size from the iPad Air 5 and am so happy I did; this form factor is just right for me. I may consider swapping to the 8 if there are battery gains, perhaps by way of OLED, but the calls for Promotion are not a concern for me. I see no issues with the screen I use.

-bdd
 
thejadedmonkey said:
I literally upgraded from a 6 to 7 on the promise of AI, and I'm still waiting for them. Will Apple have any sort of compensation for us suckers who fell for their false advertising when they make the 7 outdated?
Click to expand...

Didn’t seem worth it for me. Unless you assumed the next release was a long way away.

But the 6 has been crippled by OS26.
 
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i use a macbook pro with miniled, iphone with oled and ipad with LCD screen.
i dont know, i can barely ever notice that im looking at an inferior display when im using the ipad. sure when i watch a movie in bed in pitch plack at night i notice the greys and the non-blacks...but 99% of the use case, the difference in quality is not noticeable at all.

I think Apple nailed it with the mini 7.
 
With all the downsizing, I’m surprised no mention of thinner/lighter. Smaller bezels? My iPad mini is the only iPad I use, but it does feel like old tech next to my z fold 7
 
Slix said:
The only feature I want is a lower price at the base model.
Click to expand...
One of the ways Apple continues to foster the image of "premium products" in the minds of the public is to relentlessly charge high prices.

A long held technique implemented by other manufacturers such as Mercedes and other makers of luxury products. By charging above average prices they implement a technique known as "perceived value"

Perceived value is a customer's view or appraisal of a product or service based on their perception of its costs and benefits. This includes whether it meets (or will meet) their needs and expectations, how it compares to competitors, and its quality. By charging premium prices customers automatically think the products are superior.

An example is the woefully overpriced 16e. Yes it’s a good phone, but easily $100 USD too expensive.

Therefore by stubbornly refusing to sell reasonably priced products, Apple maintains its illusion that the competition such as Android is inferior. In turn the Apple faithful enjoy looking down on Android owners as lesser, unable to afford or too cheap to care.

While the Cupertino company builds excellent products their true expertise is world class marketing, profit taking and sustained premium pricing. The proof is their status as a revenue generating behemoth.
 
I’m a physician and I use my iPad mini everyday on rounds because it fits *perfectly* in my scrubs pocket and I hope to god they don’t increase the footprint of it because it would be basically unusable if I can’t fit it in my pockets
 
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rovex said:
Didn’t seem worth it for me. Unless you assumed the next release was a long way away.

But the 6 has been crippled by OS26.
Click to expand...
Have you installed 26.1? I find the problems I had on 26.0 went away with 26.1. The responsiveness problems at least.
 
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