2026 iPad mini: Design, display, specs, price, release
Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Macworld reports that the iPad mini 2026 is expected to feature the A18 Pro chip with 8GB of RAM and advanced N1 connectivity supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
- The device may retain its current design with potential new colors while upgrading to an OLED display for greater color accuracy and brightness.
- Camera specs will likely remain unchanged with 12 MP rear and front cameras, although the front camera may be moved to the edge of the landscape.
The iPad mini is not on the same update rate as other Apple tablets. While the iPad and iPad Air typically get annual updates and the iPad Pro gets a new model every 18 months, the iPad mini can often go years without an update. As such, the current iPad mini, released in October 2024, is not expected to receive an update until the end of this year. But it might be worth the wait.
iPad mini 2026: at a glance
- A18 Pro, N1, C1X
- OLED display possible
- Same design and same cameras
- Same price
iPad mini 2026: performance and specifications
- A18 Pro chip
- 8 GB of RAM
- C1X modem
- N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6
Since it hasn’t been updated in over a year, the 2026 iPad mini will likely get several chip upgrades. With the current iPad mini featuring an A17 Pro with 8GB of RAM and Apple Intelligence support, the 2026 iPad mini is expected to upgrade to the A18 Pro, according to reports.
The A18 Pro has the same number of CPU cores as the A17 Pro (10), but chip optimizations make the A18 Pro a more capable processor. The A18 Pro is available with a 6-core GPU, which is one more GPU core than the A17 Pro. It will therefore be a little better than the existing model, but will not bring a huge speed bump.
With the iPhone 17 range, Apple launched a new N1 chip for wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread). Apple is expected to gradually roll out the new chip to the iPad lineup throughout 2026 and 2027, including the iPad mini. We also expect the cellular version of the iPad mini to receive Apple’s C1X modem.
The A18 Pro chip will be the main novelty of the next iPad mini
Apple
iPad mini 2026: design and display
- OLED screen upgrade
- Similar design
The new iPad mini has the same design since its 2021 redesign, and the 2026 model should retain the same general look. There is, however, a strong possibility of new colors. Apple currently offers Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray, following the previous model’s Pink, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray.
However, the screen could use a major upgrade. The current iPad mini has the same Liquid Retina display as the iPad and iPad Air, an LED-backlit panel with rounded corners, wide colors and True Tone. Following the iPad Pro’s OLED upgrade in 2024, reports have claimed that the iPad mini will be next to get a Super Retina display. While it’s not likely to have features like ProMotion and tandem technology found in the iPad Pro, an OLED display would give the iPad mini superior color accuracy, richer blacks, and better brightness.
The iPad Pro M4’s OLED display could next make its way to the iPad mini.
IDG
iPad mini 2026: cameras
- 12MP rear camera
- 12MP Center Stage front camera
Apple iPads all have the same 12 MP front camera with Center Stage and a 12 MP wide-angle rear camera. It’s likely that Apple will stick to the same setup for the new iPad mini, although the front camera could be moved to the edge of the landscape like other models. At some point, the iPad line will receive the same 18 MP front camera as the iPhone, but that’s not expected with this update.
Apple is not expected to upgrade the cameras of the next iPad mini.
Foundry
iPad mini 2026: Price
The iPad mini has had the same $499 price since its 2021 redesign, and we expect the starting price to stay the same. However, when announcing Apple’s financial results for the first quarter of 2026, CEO Tim Cook said that Apple was now “in supply hunting mode” due to industry-wide constraints. So tariffs, the rising cost of RAM, and other supply chain cost increases could impact the prices of some high-end storage options.
