Apple is about to release a new iPad mini. This will mark the first update to the device in two years, and it’s expected to be a big one. Here’s everything we know so far about the new iPad mini coming soon.

OLED display

By far the biggest change to the new iPad mini will be to the display. According to multiple sources, the iPad mini 8 will feature an OLED display.

This will be a dramatic improvement to the iPad mini’s current LCD panel. For users, the move to OLED means deeper blacks, richer colors, and better contrast. The iPhone X was the first iPhone to use an OLED display in 2017, while the OLED iPad Pro debuted in 2024.

One lingering question, though, is whether the new iPad mini will use a ProMotion display for refresh rates of up to 120Hz. According to a sketchy rumor last week, the new iPad mini won’t offer ProMotion support and will instead be limited to 60Hz.

This hasn’t been corroborated by any other sources, though, so I’m holding out hope this leak is incorrect.

New chip

The current iPad mini, released in October 2024, is powered by Apple’s A17 Pro chip. The new iPad mini will likely feature the A19 Pro or A20 Pro chip. This will offer a solid boost in performance, and could enable support for the most advanced Siri AI features in iOS 27.

Better water resistance

According to Bloomberg, Apple has tested a “redesigned casing” for the iPad mini that is water-resistant like the iPhone.

Whether or not this water-resistant casing pans out remains to be seen. However, it would make the iPad mini far more durable. It’d be especially notable for people who use it as an e-reader, as one of the top features of dedicated e-readers like the Kindle is water resistance.

New speaker technology

The iPad mini 8 might also be Apple’s first device with a new vibration-based speaker system. This vibration-based speaker system would let Apple remove speaker holes, aiding its work to make the device water-resistant.

In contrast, the iPhone has speaker holes, but Apple uses gaskets and adhesives to make the device water-resistant.

New iPad mini release date

According to the latest reporting from Bloomberg, Apple is aiming to release the OLED iPad mini as early as this October. It’s allegedly the “biggest overhaul to the iPad mini in half a decade.”

There’s no word on how much the new iPad mini will cost. Apple increased the price of the current iPad mini last month from $499 to $599 (currently discounted to $549 on Amazon). Whether the new iPad mini with OLED is even more expensive remains to be seen.

What do you think of Apple’s rumored plans for the iPad mini? Are you tempted by the OLED display? Let us know down in the comments.

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