Apple will reportedly launch the first OLED iPad mini. That’s according to Bloomberg reporter and Apple tipster Mark Gurman, whose sources claim this updated iPad mini could arrive as early as this October. If true, this would be the biggest upgrade for the company’s smallest tablet. This has me both excited and worried.
The iPad mini was last updated in October 2024 with the iPad mini 7. Besides the A17 Pro chip, it retained the same design introduced in 2021.
This reported 8th-generation iPad mini model, currently code-named J510, would presumably have a faster chip along with the OLED panel. The report doesn’t specify if the tablet will receive other design upgrades, like thinner bezels.
Gurman’s report also discusses other upcoming iPad models. This includes an updated entry-level iPad, code-named J581, reportedly set for release early next year, according to Gurman’s sources. New iPad Air models, in both 11- and 13-inch variants, code-named J807 and J837, are allegedly dropping in Spring of 2027, along with new iPad Pro models around the same time.
Regarding the other iPads, Gurman doesn’t say whether or not the iPad Air line will get the same OLED upgrade as the iPad mini 8. If the iPad Air keeps the same Liquid Retina display, it would be the only iPad model without an OLED panel.
The iPad mini 7 currently starts at $599, which is $100 more than its original cost, thanks to Apple price hikes. Given the volatility of prices thanks to the ongoing RAM crisis, it’s difficult to say how much the iPad mini 8 could cost. However, the introduction of an OLED panel would naturally make this tablet more expensive.
Outlook
Though Mark Gurman has a stellar track record for Apple scoops, it’s best to take this report with a grain of salt, as Apple has yet to officially announce the new iPad mini or new iPads in general. We’ll keep our ears to the ground on this one, so stay tuned for more as we hear it.
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