Kuo: Apple Likely to Launch Refreshed iPad Mini Early Next Year

[MacRumors]

Apple will launch a new iPad mini next year with mass production set to begin in the first quarter, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a series of tweets, Kuo said there may be no new iPad releases in the next nine to 12 months, since "the iPad mini refresh is more likely to begin mass production in 1Q24."

Kuo in December said he expected mass shipments of an updated iPad mini to start towards the end of 2023 or in the first half of 2024, so his latest tweets indicate the analyst no longer believes it will launch before the end of this year.

In his previous thoughts on the subject, Kuo said a new processor will be the main selling point of the new iPad mini, suggesting that the device will receive only a spec bump.

The current iPad mini released in September 2021 features an 8.3-inch display, A15 Bionic chip, USB-C port, Touch ID power button, and 5G support on cellular models.

An unreliable rumor from a Korean leaker previously suggested that the next-generation version of the iPad mini will feature ProMotion display technology, allowing for a maximum 120Hz refresh rate.

Display analyst Ross Young also believes Apple is already working on an iPad mini 7, but he has said the tablet is unlikely to feature ProMotion technology.

Kuo's latest predictions included a reference to a foldable iPad with carbon fiber kickstand, which he believes will be launched by Apple sometime in 2024.

Article Link: Kuo: Apple Likely to Launch Refreshed iPad Mini Early Next Year

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Reduce the price and you gotta deal

 

[JapanApple]

strange how now they are saying a new mini is going to be out........... and KUO-ELSE would have said it lol. Good Grief.
For those that want to have it it's good news.

 

[zombierunner]

Please focus on iMac

 

[Falhófnir]

Before September what could they really do as a refresh? The A16 isn't even in the latest base iPhones, let alone a device that costs almost half as much. The M1 would in some ways be a step back, as it's based on the A14, even if it would work in the smaller device.

 

[locksmack]

Just fix jelly scrolling and add more ram.

 

[vagos]

Reduce the price and you gotta deal

This! For most people the mini is a niche device for reading in bed etc. No way this use justifies 700€!

 

[kiranmk2]

Whilst I can believe there will be no update to the Mini, Air or Pro range this year, I'm interested to see what happens with the low-end iPad as this seems to still be on a 12 month cycle as opposed to the 18-24 month Air/Pro cycle. Will they keep both the 9th gen and 10th gen for another year, drop one of them or launch an 11th gen with A15 in the 10th gen case. Could they even update the 9th gen with an A14 if it is greatly outselling the 10th gen?

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

This! For most people the mini is a niche device for reading in bed etc. No way this use justifies 700€!

Have to agree Apples pricing in Europe lately, is nothing but hostile.

 

[The Game 161]

sadly doubt we will ever see 120hz on the mini

 

[joelhinch]

just a spec bump i'd suspect, A16 and extra RAM

 

[mrmacuser69]

Ahhh yes, just what everyone was begging for: A new iPad Mini!

 

[WiiDSmoker]

This! For most people the mini is a niche device for reading in bed etc. No way this use justifies 700€!

Holy **** who is even the target audience for this device at that price point

 

[dampfnudel]

just a spec bump i'd suspect, A16 and extra RAM

Or a binned A17 and 6GB of RAM. Apple could be generous and give us ProMotion, perhaps reducing/eliminating the jelly scrolling, but Tim is usually more generous towards Apple stockholders than customers.

 

[VampyricGentleman]

I’m writing this on an iPad Mini 5 with Brydge 7.9 Keyboard. I love the fact I can slip a decent email answering, light document editing, reading and writing device in my pocket. So what I’d like to see is.

1. Some sort of keyboard, like a magic folio or similar as a first party accessory. I know a Magic Keyboard is out of the question because the trackpad would take up too much space. I’d like it to have the pass through charging like on the iPad Pro.

2. Support for the second gen Apple Pencil, like the 6

3. Not sure as I don’t own one if this is also on the 6 but able to plug in an external monitor would be great.

4. Because I use it for photo/video archival on the go perhaps a top space of 512gb or more?

5. Let it join the 120Hz refresh rate so no one will bitch about jelly scrolling.

6. Bring FaceID onboard.

7. MagSafe charging would be nice too

 

[Falhófnir]

Or a binned A17 and 6GB of RAM. Apple could be generous and give us ProMotion, perhaps reducing/eliminating the jelly scrolling, but Tim is usually more generous towards Apple stockholders than customers.

Generally the mini is just brought up to level with the Air a year late - when the Air receives ProMotion, you can expect the mini to get it next. Fixing the jelly scroll thing is possible as they will need to redesign the board anyway, but that's not a headline feature for an update. The big jump for the last Air was the chip and RAM, but it seems the A16 is being use more sparingly than previous chips, either for expense or scarcity, so I don't think it will make its way into other products until the A17 is released and the 14 Pro discontinued (so this rumour would roughly make sense). A16 with 6GB and new colours would be my guess.

 

[Danoc]

iPad mini with M3, stage manager, external display support, dual boot macOS iOS. And you get an all time best selling computer in the history of the universe.

 

[Gnik Nus]

If this is true, it would probably be the perfect time to replace my iPad mini 5 (which I love so much that it will be painful to part with). So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they fix jelly scrolling, because the way I use the mini it is very noticeable. Actually, it was a deal breaker for me when the 6th generation came around. Apart from my work machine (MBP), the iPad mini is by far my most used Apple device. I just love the form factor. It's perfect for my workflow, which involves a lot of reading and writing. Can't think of a better device to read in bed.

 

[Tripps9000]

Whilst I can believe there will be no update to the Mini, Air or Pro range this year, I'm interested to see what happens with the low-end iPad as this seems to still be on a 12 month cycle as opposed to the 18-24 month Air/Pro cycle. Will they keep both the 9th gen and 10th gen for another year, drop one of them or launch an 11th gen with A15 in the 10th gen case. Could they even update the 9th gen with an A14 if it is greatly outselling the 10th gen?

I highly doubt you will see the 9th generation get the a14 not gonna happen that iPad will probably be dropped from the lineup this year along with the 10th to make room for the 11th generation 🤨

 

[chucker23n1]

Clean up the iPad lineup first. The mini is a bit like the Air, a bit like the $329, a bit like the 10th-gen. Why? Just update the mini and the Air in tandem.

 

[subjonas]

My Mini 5 is just fine, but glad to hear the Mini lives on for when I eventually need to upgrade.
I wouldn’t mind if it folded so I could carry it around the house in my pocket.

 

[Pezimak]

I wouldn’t trust a word Kuo on the iPad Mini launch dates, considering he stated no new iPad Mini would launch, on the same day the last iPad Mini actually launched….

I fully expect the next Mini to get an Apple ‘M’ chip and probably a better screen.

 

[SmugMaverick]

Just not worth it, it'll be another slight spec bump that won't be noticeable from the previous model but they'll sell it as INNOVATION 😂

Just wait, then buy the 21 model cheap.

iPad line is dead until they switch everyone over to OLED/Micro LED.

 

[SoldOnApple]

Give it a two MagSafes on the back so we can clip it to our car dashboards easily.

 

[BobSmith1]

From the Mini 6, make it 1cm taller and 1cm wider - because right now it feels like a big iPhone.

Add ProMotion.

It’ll be such a winner device then.