Apple’s next iPad mini is almost ready, here’s what to expect

Apple has a lot in store for this fall, headlined by the iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro launching next month. Apple is also working on a new iPad mini, and a new report today suggests it’s coming in October.

A new iPad mini is coming soon

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman reports that the new iPad mini with an OLED screen “should go on sale by the end of October.”

This suggests the new iPad mini won’t be announced at next month’s “Surprise and shine” special event. Instead, Apple will likely announce it separately in October, either via a press release or another event.

As a refresher, here’s what to expect from the next-generation iPad mini:

OLED display
Faster performance, likely powered by the A19 Pro or A20 Pro chip
Better water resistance thanks to a “redesigned casing”
A new vibration-based speaker system

This will mark the first update to the iPad mini in two years. Apple last updated the device in October 2024, adding the A17 Pro chip, Apple Pencil Pro support, and Apple Intelligence compatibility.

The iPad mini’s price increased by $100 earlier this year, from $499 to $599. It’s currently on sale for $569 at Amazon. Whether the next-generation model comes at an even higher price remains to be seen.

Over at 512 Pixels, Stephen Hackett has a great look at the history of the iPad mini and how its role and position in Apple’s lineup has changed over the years.

I think one of the biggest questions right now is how the foldable iPhone Ultra will impact the market for the iPad mini. The iPhone Ultra essentially offers a 2-in-1 iPhone and iPad mini form factor. Will that cannibalize the standalone iPad mini? I’m doubtful, since I think a lot of people like keeping the iPad and iPhone separate.

Are you considering a new iPad mini? What do you think of Apple’s smallest iPad form factor? Let us know down in the comments.