Apple Reportedly Set to Unveil OLED iPad Mini Next Week
Plans to unveil an iPad mini with an OLED display next week. The rumored update includes an A20 Pro chip, 12GB of RAM, a landscape front camera and water…
Apple reportedly plans to unveil an iPad mini with an OLED display next week, and guests at the company’s Los Angeles experience are expected to try the device. The iPad mini 8 expected update could bring a faster chip, more memory and water resistance, but one key screen detail remains unsettled.
The invited guests are expected to get hands-on time with the tablet on Wednesday, October 28, alongside MacBook Pro models with touch-enabled OLED displays, a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip and an iMac with an M6 chip, according to MacRumors.
iPad mini 8 expected to get OLED and A20 Pro
The rumored tablet would replace the current model’s LCD screen with OLED. MacRumors reports Apple has tested both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates, but it is unclear which option the company selected. The display is also expected to be slightly larger, with slimmer bezels, richer colors and higher contrast.
That uncertainty matters for buyers weighing the screen upgrade. OLED is expected to improve image quality, but the available reporting does not establish whether the new model will offer the higher refresh rate.
A faster chip is also in the rumor. The iPad mini 8 is expected to use Apple’s A20 Pro, made with TSMC’s 2nm process. MacRumors says performance could reach around 1.5× faster CPU and around 2.5× faster GPU compared with the A17 Pro in the current iPad mini. Those are reported expectations, not confirmed test results.
Short version: still a rumor.
The A20 Pro is also described as having a “dual 16-core Neural Engine,” for 32 cores in total. The next model is expected to include 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the current tablet. MacRumors links the memory increase to the ability to customize the pace and expressiveness of Siri AI’s voice.
Camera, connectivity and water resistance
Other reported changes focus on how people use the tablet. The front camera is expected to move to the right bezel when the device is held upright, placing it in a landscape orientation. Apple is also said to be developing a redesigned speaker system with no speaker holes, and potentially an iPhone earpiece-like speaker in the top bezel.
For wireless connections, the tablet is expected to use Apple’s custom N1 chip, with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support. Cellular versions could use either a C1X or C2 modem, according to the report. The device is also rumored to receive an IP water-resistance rating for the first time.
These details could affect everyday use: a landscape camera changes where the camera sits during video calls, while water resistance would add a new durability feature. The report does not specify the rating or describe the conditions the tablet would withstand, so the extent of that protection is not yet clear.
Possible price increase
Price is another open question. The current iPad mini starts at $599 in the U.S., after Apple raised its price by $100 in June. The company attributed that increase to surging prices for RAM and storage chips, MacRumors reported.
With an OLED display potentially adding to costs, the next model might be more expensive, the report says. Apple has not confirmed the device’s features or price in the sourced report.
MacRumors says invited guests are expected to try the iPad mini at Apple’s Los Angeles experience on October 28.
Source: macrumors.com
