Big Changes Coming to the Next iPad Mini
So, there’s been a lot of buzz lately about the next iPad mini, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most meaningful updates this little device has seen in years. Apple’s eighth-generation iPad mini is expected to land sometime next year, and from what’s being reported, at least four major upgrades are on the way. Let me walk you through what’s being talked about right now, because the lineup of features sounds surprisingly ambitious for Apple’s smallest tablet.
First, the biggest shift seems to be the display. It’s being widely expected that the new iPad mini will move to an OLED screen. If that happens, it will mark the first time this model gets OLED technology, something Apple has been gradually rolling out across its devices. The Apple Watch got it back in 2015, then the iPhone in 2017, and more recently the iPad Pro. Now the mini looks like it’s finally joining the club. OLED would mean deeper blacks, brighter highlights, better contrast, and just an overall richer, more premium viewing experience compared to the current Liquid Retina LCD. Reports even suggest Samsung will provide the panels, with mass production apparently planned for mid-2026, which lines up nicely with Apple’s expected release window.
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The next upgrade being discussed is on the inside: the chip. The current iPad mini uses a version of the A17 Pro, but next year’s model is expected to jump to the A19 Pro. That’s the same chip family used in the newer iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro series. It likely won’t be the full powerhouse version—probably the five-core GPU variant rather than the six-core found in the higher-end iPhones—but it should still offer a noticeable speed bump for apps, gaming, and anything involving Apple Intelligence features.
Another interesting change is water resistance. Bloomberg has reported that Apple is working on giving the iPad mini an official water-resistance rating, something no iPad currently has. It’s not clear yet what rating it will get, but even moderate protection—similar to the iPhone—would make it far more durable around the pool, in the kitchen, or anywhere accidents tend to happen.
And then there’s the speaker system. Apple is said to be redesigning the speakers to use vibration-based audio technology, which would let them remove the traditional speaker holes altogether. This ties directly into the water-resistance upgrade by eliminating points where water could get inside. It’s a different approach than what Apple uses on the iPhone, and it hints at a deliberate effort to seal the iPad mini more effectively.
As for timing and price, nothing is locked in yet, but a launch alongside new iPad Air models in the first half of 2026 seems likely. With all these upgrades—OLED, better durability, a new chip, and a fresh speaker design—the starting price may go up by around $100 from today’s $499. But if the upgrades land as expected, this could be the most polished and capable iPad mini Apple has released yet.
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