New iPad Mini With Four Upgrades Reportedly Launching by October

[MacRumors]

Apple is planning to release a new iPad mini model with an OLED display by October this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple already updated the iPad Pro with an OLED display in May 2024, but the iPad mini, iPad Air, and entry-level iPad are all still equipped with LCD screens. The move to OLED technology would result in the next iPad mini offering improved image quality, thanks to richer colors and higher contrast ratio with true blacks.

Given that OLED displays are generally more expensive than LCDs, the next iPad mini could have a higher starting price compared to the current model.

Gurman did not provide any other details about the next iPad mini today, but he previously reported that the device would receive a vibration-based speaker system and increased water resistance. The next iPad mini is also rumored to be powered by either an A19 Pro or A20 chip, up from the A17 Pro chip in the current model.

The current ‌model launched in October 2024, with the A17 Pro chip enabling Apple Intelligence.

Article Link: New iPad Mini With Four Upgrades Reportedly Launching by October

 

[terrapinjess]

Ok, serious question: Anyone have a good answer as to why the iPad Mini has not moved over to M series chips yet?
I have the A17 and it’s perfectly fine, but…
Nonetheless, the Mini is the best iPad I’ve ever had.

 

[dmr727]

I'm excited for the launch if for no reason other than we can stop having to hear about it every week. 🙂

But seriously, if the inclusion of OLED makes this thing lighter or thinner, I'll probably upgrade. Otherwise I think I'll just hang on to my 7.

 

[schlitzz]

Geezus, it’s just a slimmer Newton with a color screen.

 

[Rychiar]

are they really still going to handicap it with 60hz?

 

[hieranonymous]

Weirdly this is the upcoming Apple device I’m most looking forward to. An iPad mini with an OLED display is the perfect expression of what an iPad mini ought to be. And the new speaker tech sounds intriguing. I seem to recall some Sony televisions having employed it in the past.

 

[yuvaldv1]

Ok, serious question: Anyone have a good answer as to why the iPad Mini has not moved over to M series chips yet?
I have the A17 and it’s perfectly fine, but…
Nonetheless, the Mini is the best iPad I’ve ever had.

Too power hungry/hot for a smaller device is my guess.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Please just launch already.
This and the Apple TV, even though I use both, I'm so sick of hearing about.

 

[Spooner83]

Been waiting for an iPad mini with ProMotion 120hz for years. I was excited to buy this based on the rumors but it looks like I won't be buying this one either. Apple really disappoints nowadays.

 

[erinsarah]

... And the new speaker tech sounds intriguing. I seem to recall some Sony televisions having employed it in the past.

My Honda Ridgeline uses this tech in the truck bed.

 

[Logamaniac]

are they really still going to handicap it with 60hz?

Seems like an odd choice to put premium components in it, charge a more premium price and yet still not give it promotion.

 

[dominiongamma]

Been waiting for an iPad mini with ProMotion 120hz for years. I was excited to buy this based on the rumors but it looks like I won't be buying this one either. Apple really disappoints nowadays.

The real question is, will you stick with Apple?

 

[johnnytravels]

I wouldn’t want to buy an iPad w/o FaceID anymore.
Perhaps by them time the markets have crashed and memory prices are down again, it will come to the Mini, too

 

[svish]

Better water resistance will be good. Hopefully along with the OLED display, the refresh rate will be 120Hz. Think the new iPad mini will be significantly costlier.

 

[rensuchan]

iPad Mini is still one of the three upcoming devices I'm interested in despite rumors pointing to a 60Hz display recently. The picture quality matters more to me than the refresh rate for what I'll use a Mini for.

I'm also somewhat interested in how this vibration tech / water resistance rumor pans out. Maybe the iPad Mini 8 becomes my shower music/video device too lol

 

[Spock]

Better water resistance will be good. Hopefully along with the OLED display, the refresh rate will be 120Hz. Think the new iPad mini will be significantly costlier.

It is already a little overpriced already I think.

 

[M4irmidnight]

I’d h

are they really still going to handicap it with 60hz?

i would happily choose a 120hz LCD panel like the first iPad pros had over OLED 60hz.

Grey blacks>Laggy ui

 

[Spock]

I’d h

i would happily choose a 120hz LCD panel like the first iPad pros had over OLED 60hz.

Grey blacks>Laggy ui

I have the previous generation iPad mini and a current generation iPad Pro and I notice the 120 hz far more than the color differences of the OLED during normal tasks.

 

[turbineseaplane]

This is so depressing to me.
OLED, but only 60hz?

I can't even think of any new OLED products being sold in 2026 that aren't 120hz.

Are there any?

(probably some cheap fitness tracker or something maybe?)

I briefly had a 60hz OLED TV, 11 years ago, in 2015 (sent it back after a week)

 

[rensuchan]

i would happily choose a 120hz LCD panel like the first iPad pros had over OLED 60hz.

Grey blacks>Laggy ui

Definitely a user preference thing.

Most visual content is still targeting 60Hz so for consumption of that, I'll always lean towards better visuals.

If the Mini was going to be a productivity device for me, I'd probably be in the "lack of ProMotion = deal breaker" camp.

 

[Spock]

This is so depressing to me.
OLED, but only 60hz?

I can't even think of any new OLED products being sold in 2026 that aren't 120hz.

Are there any?
(probably some cheap fitness tracker or something maybe?)

The Apple Watch...😅

 

[ProbablyDylan]

What a disappointment.

 

[Crow_Servo]

This is so depressing to me.
OLED, but only 60hz?

I can't even think of any new OLED products being sold in 2026 that aren't 120hz.

Are there any?

(probably some cheap fitness tracker or something maybe?)

I briefly had a 60hz OLED TV, 11 years ago, in 2015 (sent it back after a week)

iPhone 17e.

You got me, MacRumors. I thought this time it had been announced. I thought I just saw a number of articles about the Mini recently, so another article (with so little new info) was a bit unexpected.

 

[turbineseaplane]

iPhone 17e.

Thank you. I knew I was forgetting some product.

How sad that the iPad Mini will be getting an "e" experience, despite being not inexpensive.

 

[Rychiar]

I’d h

i would happily choose a 120hz LCD panel like the first iPad pros had over OLED 60hz.

Grey blacks>Laggy ui

OLED screens aren't doing much good these days anyways when content isn't made with true black levels 90% of the time anymore