When it comes to small tablets, Apple's iPad mini continues to be the first to come to mind. Not just because it's one of the only tiny slabs around, but also because it's one of the best tablets today. So, it makes sense that an iPad mini 8 would be a hotly anticipated device.
After all, the iPad mini 7 delivers a full tablet experience in a comfortably small, portable design. Its size alone makes it great for scrolling through websites, reading, drawing and gaming while on the go. And Apple's rumored next-gen mini tablet is already expected to deliver some worthwhile upgrades.
The wait for Apple's iPad mini 8 may not be as long as we once thought, especially compared to the three-year gap between the iPad mini 7 and mini 6. With the rumor mill spilling the beans on an upgraded chip and OLED displays, there's a lot to look forward to with the next iPad mini.
Whether you're looking forward to Apple's iPad mini successor or wondering if it's worth the wait, here's what you need to know about the rumored iPad mini 8.
iPad mini 8: When will it arrive?
Landing on a window when the iPad mini 8 comes out has been tricky. Despite leaks and rumors cropping up, Apple's release schedule for its iPad mini lineup has been patchy.
Now that Apple's "Awe Dropping" September event is past, giving us the latest iPhone 17, AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch 11 and more, we now have room for more iPad (and Mac) announcements. While Apple is expected to reveal a bunch of new products from October onwards, which suggests another event may be on its way, the only tablet expected is the M5 iPad Pro.
This comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, with no notes on the iPad mini 8 arriving within the late 2025 to early 2026 timeframe. That means the mini 8 could launch at a later date, possibly coinciding with the release of an upcoming iPad Air M4. But that doesn't mean we won't see it sooner.
As an example, the iPad mini 5 launched in March 2019, while the iPad mini 6 arrived in September 2021. Then, the iPad mini 7 came along in October 2024. Unlike the iPhone 17, which was revealed in September as part of Apple's annual iPhone update, there's no concrete time frame on when the iPad mini 8 will arrive.
That said, since it's now expected to arrive with an A19 Pro — the same chip likely to power the iPhone 17 Pro (more on this later) — it would make sense that the iPad mini's release date comes sometime in the same time frame as this next-level chip (at least before subsequent Apple silicon arrives in 2026).
So, is it leaning towards an October release date like its predecessor or more toward the start of next year, similar to the iPad Air M3's March release? Only time will tell, but the longer it's left, we may see a substantial upgrade come along...
Either way, it may not be long until we find the iPad mini 8 arrive, although if you're after a mini tablet right now, the mini 7 is still worth grabbing.
iPad mini 8: Performance
The iPad mini 8 release date may still be up in the air, but as for what's under the hood, we have a good idea of what this small tablet will boast.
As noted above, the iPad mini 8 is expected to use the same A19 Pro chip as the high-end iPhone 17 Pro models. This comes from accidental code leaked from Apple, showing that a next-gen iPad mini is very much on the way.
If accurate, this would be a significant upgrade from the A17 Pro chip currently used in the iPad mini 7. Plus, it makes sense that the new mini would use an A19 Pro like the iPhone 17 Pro, seeing as the last mini tablet used the same chip as the iPhone 15 Pro.
We've run the tests, and the A19 Pro chip is Apple's most powerful mobile chipset to date (no surprises there). You can expect a 6-core CPU and 6-core GPU, along with Neural Accelerators built into each core that offer improved AI performance. This means we'll be getting a hugely upgraded iPad mini 8, especially when it comes to performance.
Interestingly, seeing as the A17 Pro chip in the iPad mini 7 features a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, we can also expect an additional graphics core, since the A19 Pro chip offers a 6-core GPU.
However, there's another A19 Pro silicon out there that offers one less GPU core, which can be found in the ultra-thin iPhone Air. If Apple continues to use the same chip in its iPad mini as with its latest iPhone Pro models, we can hopefully expect the iPad mini 8 to come with that extra GPU core.
We'll take all the extra power we can get in a mini device, and it should be more than enough to support Apple Intelligence features and even the latest games to come on Apple's Store.
We've been very impressed with the iPad mini 7's performance, with our own Anthony Spadafora finding an all-new way to game with a Razer Kishi Ultra controller. With the A19 Pro, the next mini looks to include even more power gains.
iPad mini 8: OLED display?
We've heard plenty about Apple bringing an OLED display to the MacBook Pro, and we've already seen one shine on the M4 iPad Pro. Will the iPad mini 8 be lucky enough to get one? Possibly, if leaks ring true.
Rumor has it that an OLED iPad mini is set to arrive in 2026. This comes from display analyst Ross Young, with the report hinting that the first OLED iPad will be an 8.5-inch iPad mini.
This could launch as soon as early 2026, although the most recent launch has seen Apple's smaller tablet come around the fall. Some believe it's set to arrive in 2027 instead, seeing as OLED MacBooks are now tipped to come in 2027, too.
Either way, it's unclear when we'll see an iPad mini 8 arrive, and whether this will be the model that comes with an OLED panel. We'd hope so, but in any case, this would be the biggest design change to come to the
iPad mini 8: Outlook
We may already have a very clear idea of what the iPad mini 8 will offer, even if it's likely to come with the exact same design as its predecessor (and that's no bad thing). With a similar form factor, an upgraded A19 Pro chip that matches the iPhone 17 Pro and possibly an OLED display, there would be a lot to enjoy about Apple's small tablet.
Will it arrive alongside the expected M5 MacBook Pro this fall or come along early next year? Whatever the case, it's only a matter of months until we find out. In the meantime, you can check out why the iPad mini still ranks at the top of our list of best iPads.
More from Tom's Guide
- 5 apps I use to turn my iPad into the ultimate workstation
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