Whereas Apple refreshed the iPad Professional and the iPad Air in Could, the iPad mini continues to be in want of an replace. Apple final launched a brand new iPad mini in September 2021, so it is overdue for an overhaul.
Rumors recommend that Apple has plans to refresh its smallest pill in 2024, and this information highlights all the rumors we have heard concerning the machine up to now.
Show and Design
We have not heard rumors of design modifications for the iPad mini, which implies it would seemingly function the identical 8.3-inch dimension and all-display design. The present iPad mini has a Contact ID Energy Button, which we’re additionally anticipating for the brand new mannequin.
In keeping with a 2023 rumor, Apple will make a small tweak to the iPad mini’s show in an effort to chop down on “jelly scrolling.” The display meeting can be rotated, which is meant to cut back the impact when utilizing the iPad mini in portrait orientation.
Jelly scrolling refers to noticeable lag when scrolling vertically by means of text-based context like a webpage. Every line seems to tilt downward towards the left of the display because it passes, which makes it seem like one facet of the show is responding sooner. Apple says that that is regular conduct for LCD iPads, however the firm nonetheless needs to make a change to reduce the impact.
A-Collection Chip
The iPad Professional and the iPad Air have M-series chips, however we’re not anticipating the iPad mini to get a Mac chip this yr. As an alternative, Apple is more likely to go along with the A17 Professional that was used within the iPhone 15 Professional fashions, or another A17 variant.
It is also potential that the iPad mini will get an A18 chip if it comes after the iPhone 16 lineup, as rumors recommend the iPhone 16 fashions could have chips within the A18 household.
With an A17 Professional or higher, the iPad mini can be on par with or sooner than the iPhone 15 Professional fashions, but it surely will not have the speeds of the iPad Air or iPad Professional.
Apple is overhauling iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 with a concentrate on AI, so excessive powered chips are a should for upcoming units.
New Colours
The iPad mini is offered in house grey, starlight, pink, and purple proper now. Apple usually refreshes colour choices with updates, so new colours are a particular risk. With the iPad Air, which the iPad mini usually mimics, Apple removed pink.
If Apple makes the iPad mini obtainable in the identical colours because the iPad Air, it might are available in house grey, purple, blue, and starlight.
Entrance Digicam
Apple moved the front-facing digital camera on the iPad Air to the panorama fringe of the machine, and it might make the identical change for the iPad mini. It could make much less sense to have a panorama digital camera on an iPad mini, although, as a result of it is much less usually used with keyboards.
The digital camera might get assist for HDR 4 and it might have a wider aperture, if it adopts the digital camera used within the iPad Air.
Connectivity
Apple has been including Wi-Fi 6E to every product because it’s up to date, and it must be the iPad mini’s flip this yr. Wi-Fi 6E will permit the iPad mini to connect with the 6GHz Wi-Fi community on supported routers.
Bluetooth 5.3 can also be anticipated, as that is one other replace Apple has been making to new units, and the iPad mini might lose its nano-SIM slot, with Apple opting just for eSIM.
Apple Pencil Professional
The present iPad mini works with the Apple Pencil 2, so the brand new mannequin will seemingly assist the Apple Pencil Professional. The Apple Pencil Professional has a squeeze gesture, haptic suggestions, a gyroscope for barrel roll assist, and Discover My integration.
Apple Pencil hover may additionally be a brand new function, as the present iPad mini doesn’t assist it.
Launch Date
Apple will seemingly launch a brand new iPad mini towards the top of the yr, seemingly in September or October. In some years, Apple holds a particular October occasion for Macs and iPads, and we might get that in 2024.
MacBook Professional fashions, the Mac mini, and the low-cost iPad might all be refreshed alongside the iPad mini within the fall.
Future iPad mini Fashions
There are rumors that Apple is engaged on a foldable iPad mini and OLED show know-how for the iPad mini, however neither of those updates are anticipated in 2024.
OLED, a foldable iPad mini, or a foldable OLED iPad mini are applied sciences not anticipated till 2026, 2027, and even later.