Proof positive: my mini 6 was mistakenly left in a load of laundry and succumbed to the washing machine. Water resistance would be nice. I wouldn't expect anything more than "splash proof" or IPX4.
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OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect
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I'm not predicting it. If Apple's going to make one that's as far as I would expect them to go without making it more expensive or bulky.
rensuchan
macrumors member
This the one iPad update I really want right now. Someone mentioned bedside usage earlier; this is basically the ideal use case for the mini for me. I have a Mini 6 and I enjoyed it at release, but upon getting a M1 iPad Pro with Mini LED later on and being used to 120Hz OLED screens on pro tier iPhones, I found myself not using it much at all despite enjoying the form factor. Honestly, I would even take the Mini LED that they used in the Apple silicon iPad Pro models when they came out... it just needs to be something better than these aged Retina LCDs.
sos47
macrumors 6502a
very good combo.
My Dream combo would be an iPad mini rugged ( ip rated) and a garmin fenix 8 pro
Very similar, with a few details.
You may be better off just getting water proof case or rugged case for it has no way Apple is going to make rugged iPad.
If I got nauseous from something like that I would certainly see a doctor
Crow_Servo
macrumors 65816
My iPad Mini 6 is working well still, but the declined battery health is getting more apparent. I use it a lot, so I’m quite ready for the Mini 8.
OLED would be great, but if it stays LCD, I’ll live. ProMotion would be nice. It annoys me that the iPad Air still doesn’t have ProMotion. Get on that please, Apple!
I speculate that the Mini should get equipped with 12GB RAM this time. Since the Mini 4, every Mini gets a RAM increase, so that would be welcome again.
OLED would be great, but if it stays LCD, I’ll live. ProMotion would be nice. It annoys me that the iPad Air still doesn’t have ProMotion. Get on that please, Apple!
I speculate that the Mini should get equipped with 12GB RAM this time. Since the Mini 4, every Mini gets a RAM increase, so that would be welcome again.
I want it to have extended display, so that it’s portable, but I can plug it in and use as a desktop.
coachingguy
macrumors 6502a
puckhead193
macrumors G3
eh wish we had a date. Debating getting a 11 iPad Pro with keyboard. I already have 13" MacBook Air m2 for portability. How much more portable is an 11 iPad Pro....
jnc
macrumors 68020
D_J
macrumors member
It's the perfect size for me, I've tried standard iPads and the mini just works much better for me. I use it daily (on my 3rd one). Some OLED love would be really nice though!
Well of COURSE they're updating it! I just bought an iPad Mini A17 Pro last fall! 😂
In purple!!
I'd love the extra waterproofing, I'd love if it had more RAM (not that I've run into issues yet, but still), and I'd love HDR...maybe most of all I'd love the A19/M5 memory protection features.
But still, my mini is super great to hold, has a great screen, feels fast, does phone calls well, etc.
And is purple! Whyyyyyy are the pro devices such boring colors?
Actually I did have mine just quit charging or turning on or SOMETHING, thankfully it was within the warranty period, I sent it to Apple, got it back pretty quickly. They couldn't find anything wrong, but said the restoration process they always do as part of repairs may have fixed something, and it's been months so far with no issues.
It's my first Apple device too that I can limit to 80% charge, as my understanding is going from 80-60% in a sitting is better on the battery than 100-80.
If not for whatever went wrong, I've liked it a lot so far.
Well, iPadOS 26 at first really screwed up multitasking on the device itself versus my old iPad Air 2. Like it seemed like they did cool stuff for using these as PCs, but they hurt usability as a tablet. BUT they've been steadily adding back in multitasking stuff they pulled out, and I think as of 26.4 it may actually be back to more or less working as easily as the old system (but with the new features too).
Honestly I probably would have spent $30 more on an Air M3 had I understood that the iPad mini A17 Pro couldn't be used realistically as a PC (I somehow misunderstood and thought it could...you can mirror the display, but can't even fix the aspect ratio of an external display when you mirror it. I'd rather have that capability than not in a pinch, but it's a far cry from an M chip doing true external monitors.
I got the mini though (for the first time) because I thought it would be easier to use for phone calls, which may be true. It's VERY comfortable to hold, and still more spacious and useful than an iPhone.
Though the larger tablets, even my old 12.9" Pro were surprisingly comfortable to hold two handed.
In purple!!
I'd love the extra waterproofing, I'd love if it had more RAM (not that I've run into issues yet, but still), and I'd love HDR...maybe most of all I'd love the A19/M5 memory protection features.
But still, my mini is super great to hold, has a great screen, feels fast, does phone calls well, etc.
And is purple! Whyyyyyy are the pro devices such boring colors?
Actually I did have mine just quit charging or turning on or SOMETHING, thankfully it was within the warranty period, I sent it to Apple, got it back pretty quickly. They couldn't find anything wrong, but said the restoration process they always do as part of repairs may have fixed something, and it's been months so far with no issues.
It's my first Apple device too that I can limit to 80% charge, as my understanding is going from 80-60% in a sitting is better on the battery than 100-80.
If not for whatever went wrong, I've liked it a lot so far.
Well, iPadOS 26 at first really screwed up multitasking on the device itself versus my old iPad Air 2. Like it seemed like they did cool stuff for using these as PCs, but they hurt usability as a tablet. BUT they've been steadily adding back in multitasking stuff they pulled out, and I think as of 26.4 it may actually be back to more or less working as easily as the old system (but with the new features too).
Honestly I probably would have spent $30 more on an Air M3 had I understood that the iPad mini A17 Pro couldn't be used realistically as a PC (I somehow misunderstood and thought it could...you can mirror the display, but can't even fix the aspect ratio of an external display when you mirror it. I'd rather have that capability than not in a pinch, but it's a far cry from an M chip doing true external monitors.
I got the mini though (for the first time) because I thought it would be easier to use for phone calls, which may be true. It's VERY comfortable to hold, and still more spacious and useful than an iPhone.
Though the larger tablets, even my old 12.9" Pro were surprisingly comfortable to hold two handed.
I've got to say the iPhone Air seems kind of random and not great compared to the mini and plus. I can TOTALLY see the point of those. The Air seems like neat engineering, but it's not like regular iPhones aren't already super thin, I only use an iPhone with a battery pack attached anyway, more than doubling the weight (I forget how light and thin my iPhone 13 actually is when I pull the battery off!) and the sound quality on the Air is supposed to be a GIANT downgrade over the other iPhones.
The iPhone 13 has ruined other mobile devices for me, as while not as good as my TV, I've never heard anything else that comes even 10% to how good music and shows and whatnot sound on the 13 and presumably all the newer designed models!
My Mini 6 is 5 year old this fall.
It still works great as my primary device especially after recent OS updates it feels more usable with keyboard and mouse.
The form factor + lightweight is the perfect bike commuter, travel companion.
I love it`s kinda limiting me in long sittings behind the screen, i do not have socialmedia, i watch a lot less youtube etc as on the ipad mini you can do split screen but its kinda ass, so i am forced to do one app/function at the time. Increasing my attention to what i am doing.
Easy to stow away and concentrate on more important tasks, such as learning, cycling etc.
A desktop or laptop will only make me sit like potattoo behind my screen all day watching youtube, movies and P....
That being said the MINI 7 was a let down and not a worthy upgrade for my mini 6.
The Mini 8 might be on the right path but not quite there yet, beside that i think i could squeeze out another 2 years with my mini 6 realistically, it`s that good of a device.
My must haves:
The lighter it becomes the better.
It still works great as my primary device especially after recent OS updates it feels more usable with keyboard and mouse.
The form factor + lightweight is the perfect bike commuter, travel companion.
I love it`s kinda limiting me in long sittings behind the screen, i do not have socialmedia, i watch a lot less youtube etc as on the ipad mini you can do split screen but its kinda ass, so i am forced to do one app/function at the time. Increasing my attention to what i am doing.
Easy to stow away and concentrate on more important tasks, such as learning, cycling etc.
A desktop or laptop will only make me sit like potattoo behind my screen all day watching youtube, movies and P....
That being said the MINI 7 was a let down and not a worthy upgrade for my mini 6.
The Mini 8 might be on the right path but not quite there yet, beside that i think i could squeeze out another 2 years with my mini 6 realistically, it`s that good of a device.
My must haves:
- FaceID.
- Better screen, higher refresh rate and smaller bezels.
- 12 gb RAM.
- Wireless charging
The lighter it becomes the better.
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Will not be surprised if it starts at $649. Will definitely have A19 or maybe even newer chip if it launches only in 2027. An OLED display will be a nice addition to the mini iPad. Maybe the entry level iPad or even the Air will be enough for most users unless they are looking specifically for the smaller size of mini.
