Promotion and FaceID for me to upgrade from my Mini 7. I'm not unhappy with it, but this is a speculation/wishful thinking thread, so that's my wish list.
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iPad Mini 8 Rumors: Everything We Know So Far
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Using a mini 6 in 2025 is rough.
It’s strange to me how iOS 26 runs fine on an iPhone 13/mini but runs like molasses on the iPad mini 6 considering it’s the same chip in both.
iPadOS 26 has a lot more going on in terms of window/menu multitasking management so that could be the difference?
This. Jelly scroll happens on the M4 iPad Pro which has 120Hz screen, so 120Hz is not a fix for everything.
Would love for the Mini to get extended display on an external display, not just mirroring. Maybe that means an M-series chip. Even an M1 or M2 should work, since it works in older iPad Pros.
For me still using a mini 5 and loving it, to change I’d want it to have all the features people have mentioned but also how about a 1st party keyboard? I’ve been using the Brydge 7.9 on my 5 since it came out and it’s fine for most things, though its emoji picker button doesn’t work anymore! 
Did I say anything about 120Hz? I want the jelly scrolling fixed. It’s pretty simple. Use a higher quality panel/controller.
They either need to add a 120hz panel on there, preferably OLED, or just don't bother releasing a new model until they decide to do so.
The most noticeable issue for me on my iPad Mini is most often RAM. When I had the 6, background Safari (my most used app) tabs often get killed and get force reloaded. Losing the last context. It was annoying enough I ended up getting the 7. The 8 GB RAM helped a lot. Unfortunately iPadOS 18 soon brought back tab killing again but not as bad as when I had the 6.
Now with iPadOS 26 (I haven't upgraded yet) and its multitasking features which I appreciate made their way to the Mini, I'm concerned about running out of RAM even more often once I start using these features. Maybe even if I don't use them and just Safari by itself, tabs will get killed off more often anyway.
For my use cases, more RAM is more important to me than OLED, 120 Hz, ProMotion, Face ID and jelly scroll. Maybe enable virtual memory like standard desktop OS's would be good but I assume that'd need an M chip.
Now with iPadOS 26 (I haven't upgraded yet) and its multitasking features which I appreciate made their way to the Mini, I'm concerned about running out of RAM even more often once I start using these features. Maybe even if I don't use them and just Safari by itself, tabs will get killed off more often anyway.
For my use cases, more RAM is more important to me than OLED, 120 Hz, ProMotion, Face ID and jelly scroll. Maybe enable virtual memory like standard desktop OS's would be good but I assume that'd need an M chip.
Reading this on my iPad mini 7.
It is so close to being the perfect tablet. Let’s see if Apple can fix what is wrong now without messing up what is currently working.
I just want an iPad mini I can use outside in bright sunlight. This thing is completely unusable outside, even on overcast days.
After improved peak brightness, just better colors and better contrast (especially for blacks) would be my second priority. This is the perfect little youtube/netflix device but dark scenes are hard to watch because of the poor contrast.
promotion is like a distant 3rd on the wishlist. I’d be very happy to have it but it won’t change what i’m able to do like the above 2 improvements.
I wasn’t originally expecting another ipad mini for a long time (3+ years) so very happy to see any rumors at this point.
It is so close to being the perfect tablet. Let’s see if Apple can fix what is wrong now without messing up what is currently working.
I just want an iPad mini I can use outside in bright sunlight. This thing is completely unusable outside, even on overcast days.
After improved peak brightness, just better colors and better contrast (especially for blacks) would be my second priority. This is the perfect little youtube/netflix device but dark scenes are hard to watch because of the poor contrast.
promotion is like a distant 3rd on the wishlist. I’d be very happy to have it but it won’t change what i’m able to do like the above 2 improvements.
I wasn’t originally expecting another ipad mini for a long time (3+ years) so very happy to see any rumors at this point.
Perhaps the chip in the iPad is binned or underclocked relative to the iPhone? Apple tends to use less performant variants of the chip (and display, and storage) on the iPads, it can also be that iPadOS is more demanding as a whole, or a combination of both.
I am not questioning or challenging what you have said, but since 75% of the people on this thread is screaming 120Hz, I want to point out 120Hz does not fix jelly scrolling.
It's not even the quality of the panel or the controller - Apple just need to turn the panel or the controller 90 degrees.
(Typing this on my iPad mini 5 manufactured Sep 2021, and you will need to pry it away from my cold dead hands)
If they really dont add a 120hz screen to the new Mini they are totally lost. Like really.. the mini is by far the best iPad out there if you care about compact size for reading books / mangas. But the 60hz make it sometimes really rough to look at it when I compare my 17 Pro to it.
I really really really hope they add the Promotion….
I really really really hope they add the Promotion….
Battery life. Please improve it. It sucks on the Mini. Have to charge it twice a day with heavy use.
100% agree, and I’m also reading this on my iPad 7. It’s unusable outdoors.
The Mini 7 is so good, I may not even upgrade if a Mini 8 came out with everything I want. However, it would be nice to look forward to a future upgrade with a better screen.
Like you, I’m also not asking for ProMotion or OLED. I just want a better quality screen, brighter, and maybe improved battery life.
The mini really needs the OLED... the battery runtime is a shame for a tablet and OLED would likely have a substantial impact on improving that, let alone the image quality.
Last but not least, water resistance would be great. Shouldn't be asked too much given the design is much simpler than the iPhone and the latter is fully waterproof.
Cherry on the cake would be magsafe charger... don't care if the iPhone magsafe, Macbook magsafe or smartconnector... the USB-C at the bottom is great, but a supplemental magnetic charging option would be really great.
Last but not least, water resistance would be great. Shouldn't be asked too much given the design is much simpler than the iPhone and the latter is fully waterproof.
Cherry on the cake would be magsafe charger... don't care if the iPhone magsafe, Macbook magsafe or smartconnector... the USB-C at the bottom is great, but a supplemental magnetic charging option would be really great.
Yes. And please, please make it brighter. iPad minis are incredibly popular among pilots with the ForeFlight app. It’s the only reason I own one, and I would even be willing to spend more on a “pro” model if that’s what it takes.
It’s a tool that has become indispensable in the cockpit, and feels like it’s an afterthought for Apple.
iPad min is easily my favorite iPad I've ever used. So portable. So capable. Add Pencil to the mix and you have one of th best sketchpads (outside of pencil on paper). What I really want to see is iPad Pro mini - a no compromises iPad experience in a super portable, way more useful package.
Same, the mini 7 is the best iPad I’ve used and I’ve had pro’s in the past. Much prefer this form factor.
A pro mini would be amazing with smaller bezels etc but I’d be concerned about pricing seeing as the standard mini already doesn’t have a good starting price.
This 👆
It's SO frustrating they won't put a way better and brighter screen on it.
Pilots are a major use case specifically for the Mini (no other iPad works due to size).