If you trust the well-known Apple rumor chefs online, the comparatively quiet product autumn for Apple in 2025 should just be a breather for an eventful year in 2026. One of the products expected is a new iPad mini. This will have an OLED display for the first time and will therefore be facing a major change. Now a well-known leaker from the Far East wants to know when it could be presented in 2026.
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When asked, the user on the Chinese Weibo network who communicates under the name Instant Digital said in a post that he was not expecting the iPad mini until the third or fourth quarter at the earliest. The leaker appears to be significantly more pessimistic than US journalist Mark Gurman from Bloomberg. He recently stated that it could happen as early as the beginning of 2026. However, he qualified: “at the earliest” – thereby leaving a loophole open to deviate from the forecast.
Fall date would be plausible
The current iPad mini was released in October 2024, which makes a fall date seem quite plausible after a two-year wait. However, some observers also believe it is possible that Apple would like to present a whole package of iPads in the spring. In addition to the Mini, they also include the standard iPad in a new version and an updated iPad Air.
The main focus is currently on the iPad mini because a switch from LCD to OLED displays is expected. This means that the Mini would have significantly better contrast and black levels as well as other advantages. Gurman also stated that he expects new loudspeaker technology. This should work with vibration, which means Apple could do without speaker openings in the housing. This would prevent water from entering. With the iPhone, however, Apple uses seals and adhesives to keep water out.
However, there is one downside: The Mini will also become more expensive as a result of the change, it is said.
(mki)