iPad mini iPadOS 26 on iPad mini (6th Generation)

[Yebubbleman]

I have an iPad mini (6th Generation) (Wi-Fi+Cellular) that I've kept on iPadOS 18. I've primarily held at iPadOS 18 on this due to both early experience with iPadOS 26 on an iPad (A16) (Wi-Fi+Cellular) that I bought and then quickly returned (bought it for a trip) and due to my other experiences with iOS 26 on an iPhone 13 (same SoC as the aforementioned iPad mini) as well as macOS Tahoe on M1; which is to say that, in all cases, I noticed degradation in performance over iOS/iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia with the same hardware.

So, for those of you also rocking 6th Generation iPad minis, how has your mileage with iPadOS 26 been?

I've got half a mind to keep rocking and rolling with iPadOS 18 and then, in the fall, upgrading to either the A17 Pro version or whatever the 8th Generation mini will be, should that materialize as rumored.

 

[headlessmike]

I have an iPad mini (6th Generation) (Wi-Fi+Cellular) that I've kept on iPadOS 18. I've primarily held at iPadOS 18 on this due to both early experience with iPadOS 26 on an iPad (A16) (Wi-Fi+Cellular) that I bought and then quickly returned (bought it for a trip) and due to my other experiences with iOS 26 on an iPhone 13 (same SoC as the aforementioned iPad mini) as well as macOS Tahoe on M1; which is to say that, in all cases, I noticed degradation in performance over iOS/iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia with the same hardware.

So, for those of you also rocking 6th Generation iPad minis, how has your mileage with iPadOS 26 been?

I've got half a mind to keep rocking and rolling with iPadOS 18 and then, in the fall, upgrading to either the A17 Pro version or whatever the 8th Generation mini will be, should that materialize as rumored.

Not a single issue on mine (baring a few beta bugs that were fixed before release). Been running iPadOS 26 on it since release day.

I will say though that iOS/iPadOS/macOS 26 have had some of the longest break in periods I've experienced on Apple devices. The performance on all of my devices has been great, even older ones like my iPhone 11, but only after a couple of days post install. I still have a copy os macOS Sequoia on my M1 Mac mini along side Tahoe and Tahoe runs at least as good once everything settled down (and even feels faster due to sped up animations).

 

[berb]

I accidentally clicked update to iPadOS 26 a month ago and have regretted it ever since.

Performance wise, the iPad mini 6 runs perfectly well on iPadOS 26. No lag, and I turn off as much of Liquid Glass as possible.

But the OS 26 UI is terrible for all reasons the internet complains about. I've just bought a used iPad mini (A17 Pro) that still had iPadOS 18.6 and couldn't be happier. Less friction and easier to read UI.

I'm selling my loyal old iPad mini 6 because of iPadOS 26.

 

[RoadWarrior56]

How does iOS 26 run on the iPad Mini, 5th Generation, as this device is the oldest one that supports iOS 26? I still have one and use it regularly. IMO, its display is sharper and easier to read than its two successors. I have kept the Mini 5 on iOS 18, not wanting to chance an "upgrade" that would slow it down to a crawl. But I would like some feedback in the Mini 5 with iOS 26, if it exists.

 

[rui no onna]

How does iOS 26 run on the iPad Mini, 5th Generation, as this device is the oldest one that supports iOS 26? I still have one and use it regularly. IMO, its display is sharper and easier to read than its two successors. I have kept the Mini 5 on iOS 18, not wanting to chance an "upgrade" that would slow it down to a crawl. But I would like some feedback in the Mini 5 with iOS 26, if it exists.

The mini 5 has A12/3GB. I have the iPad 9 with A13/3GB on which should be fairly similar performance-wise and it's so-so on 26.

Lag used to be pretty bad but it has steadily improved with newer point releases.

 

[Phineasgage1848]

Just stick with on iPadOS 18! Both me and my wife have 256gb iPad Mini 6th gens and have a lot of problems on 26. It’s gotten a little better with the latest point updates but it still stutters a lot and performance is much worse than 18. On 26.4 I would have to hard reset them both about every week because the screens would become non-responsive in some areas and it would get fixed with a hard reset. Hasn’t happened yet in 26.5 but we’ll see. We will be upgrading to the new Minis when they come out but man is 26 really hard on the 6th gens. It’s sad because it never really felt slow or stutters on 18. On the bright side though I just got an 11in m5 iPad Pro and this thing is incredible. Still love my Mini form factor though.