A leaker with an average track record insists that the next iPad mini will have a 60Hz display, meaning it can't have the variable refresh rate that makes the device seem faster while helping battery life.
While rumors of an OLED iPad mini have been around since at least December 2024, most reports have predicted a launch by the end of 2026. A great many of those reports, though, have come from the same leaker, who is now also repeating their earlier claims about its display.
"Regarding the refresh rate of the Apple iPad mini OLED," leaker yeux1122 writes on Weibo. "There have been some mentions of 120Hz from overseas sources... however, it has already been confirmed that the domestic production units use LTPS."
By saying it will use LTPS, the leaker is stressing that the iPad mini will not have the LTPO technology needed for a variable refresh rate. "It is 60Hz — period," they conclude.
This 60Hz is the speed at which the screen refreshes, and it's significant because it's a fixed speed. The OLED displays on the iPad Pro can vary between 10Hz and 120Hz, which means they can speed up when needed.
So if you're watching a movie or playing a game, the screen — or even just part of it — will refresh faster and feel more responsive. If you're just reading a website, the screen slows down the refresh rate to save battery life.
This is called ProMotion, and if the leaker is correct, this forthcoming iPad mini will not have it. There is the fact that because it's OLED, it will be a higher-quality screen, but it's also probable that it won't be as bright as the display on the iPad Pro.
Separately, other reports have claimed that the new iPad mini may have the A20 Pro processor, as used in the iPhone 18 Pro.