For those seeking a premium small-screen tablet, the iPad mini remains a popular choice. However, most buyers should likely wait for the next model, which is expected to bring meaningful upgrades. Apple isn’t expected to update the iPad mini until late 2026, and that launch date could slip further due to chip demand and wider supply constraints.
When to expect the 2026 iPad mini
Apple has not officially announced a specific launch date for a new iPad mini. Industry analysis and leaks suggest a refresh is likely before the end of 2026. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in October 2025 that a new iPad mini featuring an OLED screen is among the devices Apple is expected to launch before the end of 2026. Gurman later reported in July 2026 that the OLED iPad mini is scheduled for an October 2026 release.
Several factors could influence the timing of its release and cause delays. Chip demand and supply chain constraints are primary concerns for Apple, which is currently “in a supply chase mode” due to industry-wide constraints. This suggests that even if a launch date is set, components may not arrive on schedule, pushing the release further into the year.
Performance upgrades and new chips
Since the current model hasn’t been updated in over a year, the next iPad mini is expected to receive several silicon upgrades. The current model features an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM. Most rumors suggest Apple will upgrade the device to the A19 Pro. MacRumors reported in August 2025 that Apple code inadvertently revealed an A19 Pro-powered iPad mini, although the publication noted the chip could also have been intended for the iPhone Air.
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Additional evidence emerged in December 2025, when Macworld reported seeing internal Apple code indicating that the entry-level iPad would launch with an A19 chip. Because Apple has traditionally equipped the iPad mini with a more powerful processor than the standard iPad, this lends further support to the A19 Pro rumor. An A19 Pro would represent a substantial upgrade over the current A17 Pro, offering faster on-device AI processing, improved gaming performance, and quicker photo and video editing.
There are also reports that Apple could use the A20 Pro in the iPad mini instead. The likely chip may depend on launch timing. If the new iPad mini arrives before the iPhone 18 Pro, which is expected to debut the A20 Pro, the A19 Pro remains the most likely option. However, if the launch slips into late 2026 or beyond, an A20 Pro-equipped iPad mini becomes increasingly plausible.
A less ambitious upgrade to the A18 Pro remains possible. While the performance gains would be smaller, the chip still offers meaningful improvements over the A17 Pro thanks to architectural enhancements and a more powerful GPU configuration. In benchmarks, it would outperform the current model, though the difference would be less dramatic than with an A19 Pro or A20 Pro.
Display and design shifts
The biggest display upgrade rumored for the next iPad mini is the adoption of OLED technology. Following Apple’s transition of the iPad Pro to OLED in 2024, multiple reports have suggested that the iPad mini will be the next iPad to make the switch. Ross Young of DSCC was first to claim in a tweet in October 2024 that the next iPad mini would have a OLED panel.
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The current iPad mini, released in October 2024, still uses a Liquid Retina IPS LCD display, but industry sources, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, indicate a move to OLED is increasingly likely. The transition from LCD to OLED would represent one of the most significant upgrades in the iPad mini’s history. Unlike LCD panels, which rely on a backlight, OLED displays illuminate each pixel individually. This allows pixels to switch off completely when displaying black content, resulting in deeper blacks, higher contrast ratios, and improved HDR performance.
An OLED panel could also enable Apple to reduce bezel sizes, potentially increasing the display area slightly without significantly changing the tablet’s overall dimensions. Some reports suggest the screen could grow from 8.3 inches to around 8.5 inches as a result. While the iPad mini is unlikely to inherit premium display technologies such as ProMotion or the tandem OLED architecture used in the iPad Pro, the move to OLED would still deliver a noticeable improvement in visual quality.
The iPad mini has retained the same design since its major redesign in 2021, and the 2026 model is expected to keep that overall look. However, Apple could increase the display size while maintaining the device’s current dimensions. In December 2024, analysts at Display Supply Chain Consultants suggested in a supply chain analyst report that the next-generation iPad mini could feature an 8.5-inch display, up from the current model’s 8.3-inch panel. The reports indicated that the chassis size would remain unchanged, meaning Apple could achieve the larger screen through slimmer bezels rather than a larger body.
Connectivity and camera changes
Alongside processor upgrades, Apple is expected to bring its latest wireless technologies to the iPad mini. With the iPhone 17 lineup, Apple introduced the N1 chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. The company has already added the N1 to the M4 iPad Air and is expected to roll it out across the iPad lineup through 2026 and 2027, including the iPad mini. Cellular models are also expected to adopt Apple’s C1X modem.
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Apple’s iPads currently feature a 12MP Center Stage front-facing camera and a 12MP wide rear camera, and there are no credible reports suggesting major camera system upgrades for the next iPad mini. The most likely change concerns camera placement rather than camera hardware. Apple has moved the front-facing camera to the setting edge on its latest iPad models, and the iPad mini could follow suit to improve the experience during video calls and FaceTime sessions when used with a keyboard or stand.
While the cameras themselves may remain unchanged, image quality could still benefit from improvements to the image signal processor and computational photography capabilities of a newer A-series chip. There is also a strong possibility of new colour options. Apple currently offers the iPad mini in Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray, while the previous generation was available in Pink, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray.
Water resistance and pricing
Another rumor gaining traction is that the new iPad mini will be more water-resistant. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed in October 2025 that Apple was developing a next-generation iPad mini with a significantly more water-resistant chassis. While specific details on the rating are not yet available, this would represent a notable improvement over the current model.
The iPad mini has had the same $499 price tag since its 2021 redesign. In 2026 we could see a price increase as a result of the OLED display upgrade. Component costs could also drive up the price. During Apple’s first quarter 2026 financial results announcement, CEO Tim Cook said that Apple is now “in a supply chase mode” due to industry-wide constraints. Thus, tariffs, the rising cost of RAM, and other increases in supply-chain costs could impact pricing for some higher-end storage options.
