What to Expect From Apple's 2024 iPad Mini 7

[MacRumors]

While Apple refreshed the iPad Pro and the iPad Air in May 2024, the iPad mini is still in need of an update. Apple last introduced a new iPad mini in September 2021, so it's overdue for an overhaul.

Rumors suggest that Apple has plans to refresh its smallest tablet later in 2024, and this guide highlights all of the rumors we've heard about the device so far.

Display and Design

We haven't heard rumors of design changes for the iPad mini, which means it will likely feature the same 8.3-inch size and all-display design. The current iPad mini has a Touch ID Power Button, which we're also expecting for the new model.

According to a 2023 rumor, Apple will make a small tweak to the iPad mini's display in an effort to cut down on "jelly scrolling." The screen assembly will be rotated, which is supposed to reduce the effect when using the iPad mini in portrait orientation.

Jelly scrolling refers to noticeable lag when scrolling vertically through text-based context like a webpage. Each line appears to tilt downward toward the left of the screen as it passes, which makes it look like one side of the display is responding faster. Apple says that this is normal behavior for LCD iPads, but the company still wants to make a change to minimize the effect.

A-Series Chip

The iPad Pro and the iPad Air have M-series chips, but we're not expecting the iPad mini to get a Mac chip this year. Instead, Apple is likely to go with the A17 Pro that was used in the iPhone 15 Pro models, or some other A17 variant that's capable of handling Apple Intelligence.

It's also possible that the iPad mini will get an A18 chip if it comes after the iPhone 16 lineup, as rumors suggest the iPhone 16 models will have chips in the A18 family.

With an A17 Pro or better, the iPad mini would be on par with or faster than the iPhone 15 Pro models, but it won't have the speeds of the iPad Air or iPad Pro.

New Colors

The iPad mini is available in space gray, starlight, pink, and purple right now. Apple often refreshes color options with updates, so new colors are a definite possibility. With the iPad Air, which the iPad mini often mimics, Apple got rid of pink.

If Apple makes the iPad mini available in the same colors as the iPad Air, it could come in space gray, purple, blue, and starlight.

Front Camera

Apple moved the front-facing camera on the iPad Air to the landscape edge of the device, and it could make the same change for the iPad mini. It may make less sense to have a landscape camera on an iPad mini, though, because it's less often used with keyboards.

The camera could get support for HDR 4 and it could have a wider aperture, if it adopts the camera used in the iPad Air.

Connectivity

Apple has been adding Wi-Fi 6E to each product as it's updated, and it should be the iPad mini's turn this year. Wi-Fi 6E will allow the iPad mini to connect to the 6GHz Wi-Fi band on supported routers.

Bluetooth 5.3 is also expected, as that's another update Apple has been making to new devices, and the iPad mini could lose its nano-SIM slot, with Apple opting only for eSIM.

Apple Pencil Pro

The current iPad mini works with the Apple Pencil 2, so the new model will likely support the Apple Pencil Pro. The Apple Pencil Pro has a squeeze gesture, haptic feedback, a gyroscope for barrel roll support, and Find My integration.

Apple Pencil hover might also be a new feature, as the current iPad mini does not support it.

Release Date

Apple will likely release a new iPad mini toward the end of the year, likely in September or October. In some years, Apple holds a special October event for Macs and iPads, and we could get that in 2024. Apple is planning to hold an iPhone-centric event on Monday, September 9, so it's also entirely possible the iPad mini will see a debut then.

There are, however, refreshes coming for the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac, so it would also make sense for Apple to hold a second fall event.

Supplies of the current sixth-generation iPad mini are starting to dwindle in stores, which could be a sign that a refresh is coming in the near future.

Future iPad mini Models

There are rumors that Apple is working on a foldable iPad mini and OLED display technology for the iPad mini, but neither of these updates are expected in 2024.

An OLED display or a foldable iPad mini are technologies not expected until 2026, 2027, or even later.

Article Link: What to Expect From Apple's 2024 iPad Mini 7

 

[klasma]

It may make less sense to have a landscape camera on an ‌iPad mini‌, though, because it's less often used with keyboards.
[…]
The current ‌iPad mini‌ works with the Apple Pencil 2, so the new model will likely support the ‌Apple Pencil‌ Pro.

I don’t think they will switch to the Pencil Pro if they don’t also switch to landscape camera.

 

[Zaydax333]

IMO this doesn't need a landscape camera. What it needs is a processor that isn't cut down for no real reason.

Just give it a full A16 and an OLED Display and WiFi 7 and 128GB base storage.

 

[d686546s]

Your mileage may vary, but all I really need is a cheaper price and more base storage. I don't know what other consumers would use their Mini for, but for me it's not a productivity device.

The Mini would be an excellent companion for commuting and business trips for reading, watching shows and movies, FaceTiming my wife and still being compact enough to not be in the way.

It's just too expensive for that and 64GB is ridiculous for a new device in 2024.

 

[GMShadow]

IMO this doesn't need a landscape camera. What it needs is a processor that isn't cut down for no real reason.

Just give it a full A16 and an OLED Display and WiFi 7.

OLED would make it $699 and kill it.

 

[Realityck]

Rotating the news to now the iPad mini 7, Apple needs the 8.3" display to use a OLED with HDR to tempt people. Also that it can support AV1 hardware decoding.

 

[dmr727]

ProMotion. FaceID. Change the display orientation so jelly scroll happens in landscape instead of portrait. Be able to drive an external display (not just mirror).

That's my list, but fixing jelly scroll in the portrait orientation is the only thing I see actually happening.

 

[subjonas]

I don’t think they will switch to the Pencil Pro if they don’t also switch to landscape camera.

I think they'll switch to Pencil Pro for the Mini because I'm sure they're phasing out Pencil 1 and 2. They don't need to switch the front camera to landscape in order to do so of course, they just need to rearrange magnets and what not. I actually hope they don't switch the Mini camera to landscape, because I use it in portrait when video calling. The Mini is used much more like a phone or traditional tablet than the bigger tablets are, at least for me.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I am ready for the new iPad mini.

 

[Zaydax333]

OLED would make it $699 and kill it.

Yeahhhh they would have to keep it $499 and give it all those changes to make it compelling IMO.

 

[subjonas]

IMO this doesn't need a landscape camera. What it needs is a processor that isn't cut down for no real reason.

Just give it a full A16 and an OLED Display and WiFi 7 and 128GB base storage.

What do you mean the processor was cut down?

 

[Zaydax333]

What do you mean the processor was cut down?

New iPad Mini Has Downclocked A15 Chip Compared to iPhone 13

Both the iPhone 13 and the new iPad mini are equipped with Apple's latest A15 Bionic chip, but benchmark results reveal that the chip is...

www.macrumors.com

 

[mtulman1]

I just can’t find the appeal when it’s missing promotion. Once you experience it, it’s very hard to not have it.

 

[dmr727]

OLED would make it $699 and kill it.

I'd buy an iPad Pro mini all day long for $699. Hell, I'd spend $799.

I'll never get the opportunity though.

 

[klasma]

I think they'll switch to Pencil Pro for the Mini because I'm sure they're phasing out Pencil 1 and 2. They don't need to switch the front camera to landscape in order to do so of course, they just need to rearrange magnets and what not.

I would assume such a redesign to be more costly for Apple than just keeping the Pencil 2 alive for two more years, and hence they'd only do that when they also want to move the camera.

 

[Saturn1217]

I want a fix for jelly scroll, 128gb of storage in the base model and ideally a slightly better LCD display. It doesn't need to be amazing. But I've heard lots of reports that the display is noticeably inferior to say the iPad Air (even though the specs are the same on paper). I'd like it to just be exactly the same quality as the iPad Air. Speaker improvements are always welcome but not a must have.

That's it. Please Apple do NOT change anything else (unless you want to go crazy and give us faceID and OLED). No thinner bezels. No landscape camera. No slightly bigger screen. Not thinner. No laptop grade (less efficient) processors. The iPad mini is so close to perfection. Don't mess it up.

 

[cdsapplefan]

They did not give the new iPad Air’s OLED, so they will not give the new iPad Mini’s a OLED screen. It will just be a A18 standard chip upgrade and a standard single lense camera upgrade and nothing else

 

[Tofupunch]

Love the iPad mini form factor. Too bad it's always gimped compared to its larger siblings.

 

[frost_horizon]

I bet it will not have OLED and it will not have 120 Hz. In Apple’s eyes these techs are edge and can only be available in Pro models, even if those are widespread, common and cheap technologies. Whoever in charge of iPads lineup made the entire lineup super artificial and making no sense. Mini cut on the features as it can cannibalize Pro. This is a joke.

 

[Juggernaut510]

Apple being apple, holding back nice features knowing very well people will still buy it even with BS upgrades.

 

[Saturn1217]

Yeahhhh they would have to keep it $499 and give it all those changes to make it compelling IMO.

I wish it was possible for just the higher end model to have OLED (a long shot I realize). $499 for OLED is pushing it but the higher tier model is $649. You could bump just that tier up to $699 easily and give people an actual reason to spend that much on a mini tablet without taking away the $499 option from those who are just looking for a cheap small tablet.

I'd also argue that the iPad mini is not for budget conscious consumers anyway. They have the iPad 10 for that. People buying the iPad mini are spending extra (over the $349 ipad 10th gen) to get a small tablet specifically. They are willing to pay more.

 

[goobot]

You guys really think the air would have no oled and no promotion but the mini will

 

[djlythium]

Dear Apple:

Keep the LED, add FaceID and 120hz, and this will sell like hotcakes without cannibalizing iPad Pro sales.

 

[jwolf6589]

While Apple refreshed the iPad Pro and the iPad Air in May, the iPad mini is still in need of an update. Apple last introduced a new iPad mini in September 2021, so it's overdue for an overhaul.

Rumors suggest that Apple has plans to refresh its smallest tablet in 2024, and this guide highlights all of the rumors we've heard about the device so far.

Display and Design

We haven't heard rumors of design changes for the iPad mini, which means it will likely feature the same 8.3-inch size and all-display design. The current iPad mini has a Touch ID Power Button, which we're also expecting for the new model.

According to a 2023 rumor, Apple will make a small tweak to the iPad mini's display in an effort to cut down on "jelly scrolling." The screen assembly will be rotated, which is supposed to reduce the effect when using the iPad mini in portrait orientation.

Jelly scrolling refers to noticeable lag when scrolling vertically through text-based context like a webpage. Each line appears to tilt downward toward the left of the screen as it passes, which makes it look like one side of the display is responding faster. Apple says that this is normal behavior for LCD iPads, but the company still wants to make a change to minimize the effect.

A-Series Chip

The iPad Pro and the iPad Air have M-series chips, but we're not expecting the iPad mini to get a Mac chip this year. Instead, Apple is likely to go with the A17 Pro that was used in the iPhone 15 Pro models, or some other A17 variant.

It's also possible that the iPad mini will get an A18 chip if it comes after the iPhone 16 lineup, as rumors suggest the iPhone 16 models will have chips in the A18 family.

With an A17 Pro or better, the iPad mini would be on par with or faster than the iPhone 15 Pro models, but it won't have the speeds of the iPad Air or iPad Pro.

Apple is overhauling iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 with a focus on AI, so high powered chips are a must for upcoming devices.

New Colors

The iPad mini is available in space gray, starlight, pink, and purple right now. Apple often refreshes color options with updates, so new colors are a definite possibility. With the iPad Air, which the iPad mini often mimics, Apple got rid of pink.

If Apple makes the iPad mini available in the same colors as the iPad Air, it could come in space gray, purple, blue, and starlight.

Front Camera

Apple moved the front-facing camera on the iPad Air to the landscape edge of the device, and it could make the same change for the iPad mini. It may make less sense to have a landscape camera on an iPad mini, though, because it's less often used with keyboards.

The camera could get support for HDR 4 and it could have a wider aperture, if it adopts the camera used in the iPad Air.

Connectivity

Apple has been adding Wi-Fi 6E to each product as it's updated, and it should be the iPad mini's turn this year. Wi-Fi 6E will allow the iPad mini to connect to the 6GHz Wi-Fi network on supported routers.

Bluetooth 5.3 is also expected, as that's another update Apple has been making to new devices, and the iPad mini could lose its nano-SIM slot, with Apple opting only for eSIM.

Apple Pencil Pro

The current iPad mini works with the Apple Pencil 2, so the new model will likely support the Apple Pencil Pro. The Apple Pencil Pro has a squeeze gesture, haptic feedback, a gyroscope for barrel roll support, and Find My integration.

Apple Pencil hover might also be a new feature, as the current iPad mini does not support it.

Release Date

Apple will likely release a new iPad mini toward the end of the year, likely in September or October. In some years, Apple holds a special October event for Macs and iPads, and we could get that in 2024.

MacBook Pro models, the Mac mini, and the low-cost iPad could all be refreshed alongside the iPad mini in the fall.

Future iPad mini Models

There are rumors that Apple is working on a foldable iPad mini and OLED display technology for the iPad mini, but neither of these updates are expected in 2024.

OLED, a foldable iPad mini, or a foldable OLED iPad mini are technologies not expected until 2026, 2027, or even later.

Article Link: What to Expect From Apple's 2024 iPad Mini 7

I use my Mini 6 and the A15 is just fine for me at this time although I am sure the next iPadOS will slow it down. Anyways I have no issues with Jelly scrolling and don’t even notice anything.

 

[antiprotest]

"Face ID?"