174: Appleâs Big Plans for iPad Mini
The MacRumors Show
00:00
Reader features and Nano-texture idea
They explore adding nanotexture display, improved Books app, and reader-specific focus modes for reading on the mini.
Play episode from 32:16
Transcript
Transcript
Episode notes
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through the latest rumors about Apple's upcoming iPad mini 8.
The next-generation version of the âiPad miniâ is expected to feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, followed by the iPhone in 2017 and the iPad Pro in 2024. It now apparently plans to bring the technology to more devices, such as the iPad Air, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, and could start with the âiPad miniâ next year.
The current âiPad miniâ has a Liquid Retina LCD display, just like the âiPad Airâ. OLED offers higher contrast with true blacks, wider viewing angles, faster response times, better efficiency, and generally better perceived picture quality than LCD.
The current âiPad miniâ came out in 2024, with the main upgrade over the previous version being the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support. The previous generation introduced a complete redesign and the A15 Bionic chip.
In August, Apple mistakenly shared code that revealed key information about the next-generation âiPad miniâ with the codename J510/J511: The device features the A19 Pro chip, which is used in the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and âiPhone 17 Proâ Max.
The current âiPad miniâ uses a version of the A17 Pro chip from the âiPhoneâ 15 Pro with a five-core GPU. The A19 Pro used in the âiPhone Airâ also has a five-core GPU, as opposed to the full six-core version in the âiPhone 17 Proâ models, so it seems likely that this binned version of the chip will be the one used in the next âiPad miniâ.
Bloomberg claims that Apple is working on a version of the âiPad miniâ that has a more water resistant design, making it the first iPad with a water resistance rating.
While the âiPhoneâ has IP68 water resistance that allows it to withstand submersion in water up to six meters deep for 30 minutes, it is not yet known what IP rating the âiPad miniâ might feature. The âiPad miniâ's updated casing is expected to offer water resistance similar to the âiPhoneâ, making it safe for casual use in wet environments like a bath or a pool area.
Apple has reportedly developed a new speaker system for the âiPad miniâ that uses vibration-based technology, allowing for the speaker holes in the device to be removed. Removing the speaker holes would cut down on areas where water could get into the crevices of the âiPad miniâ.
For the âiPhoneâ, Apple uses adhesive and gaskets to protect the speaker holes and other ingress points from water intrusion, so the âiPad miniâ's design would be radically different. The current âiPad miniâ does not have an official water resistance rating and it is not safe to get it wet.
With an OLED display, water resistance, a new speaker system, and a faster chip, the device is expected to be more expensive, and Apple could charge up to $100 more for the device. The âiPad miniâ is currently priced starting at $499. Apple will purportedly launch the âiPad miniâ 8 with OLED display in the third quarter of next year at the earliest.
We also discuss further thoughts on the M5 Vision Pro, weighing up its utility for travel and day-to-day use-case, and take a look at the growing differentiation and optionality within Apple's product lineups.
This episode is sonsored by uncommon goods and notion. Visit the links below for more details:
Visit https://www.uncommongoods.com/mac for 15% off
Visit https://www.notion.com/macrumors to try Notion and Notion Agent today!
The next-generation version of the âiPad miniâ is expected to feature an OLED display, as part of Apple's plan to expand the display technology across many more of its devices. Apple's first OLED device was the Apple Watch in 2015, followed by the iPhone in 2017 and the iPad Pro in 2024. It now apparently plans to bring the technology to more devices, such as the iPad Air, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, and could start with the âiPad miniâ next year.
The current âiPad miniâ has a Liquid Retina LCD display, just like the âiPad Airâ. OLED offers higher contrast with true blacks, wider viewing angles, faster response times, better efficiency, and generally better perceived picture quality than LCD.
The current âiPad miniâ came out in 2024, with the main upgrade over the previous version being the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support. The previous generation introduced a complete redesign and the A15 Bionic chip.
In August, Apple mistakenly shared code that revealed key information about the next-generation âiPad miniâ with the codename J510/J511: The device features the A19 Pro chip, which is used in the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and âiPhone 17 Proâ Max.
The current âiPad miniâ uses a version of the A17 Pro chip from the âiPhoneâ 15 Pro with a five-core GPU. The A19 Pro used in the âiPhone Airâ also has a five-core GPU, as opposed to the full six-core version in the âiPhone 17 Proâ models, so it seems likely that this binned version of the chip will be the one used in the next âiPad miniâ.
Bloomberg claims that Apple is working on a version of the âiPad miniâ that has a more water resistant design, making it the first iPad with a water resistance rating.
While the âiPhoneâ has IP68 water resistance that allows it to withstand submersion in water up to six meters deep for 30 minutes, it is not yet known what IP rating the âiPad miniâ might feature. The âiPad miniâ's updated casing is expected to offer water resistance similar to the âiPhoneâ, making it safe for casual use in wet environments like a bath or a pool area.
Apple has reportedly developed a new speaker system for the âiPad miniâ that uses vibration-based technology, allowing for the speaker holes in the device to be removed. Removing the speaker holes would cut down on areas where water could get into the crevices of the âiPad miniâ.
For the âiPhoneâ, Apple uses adhesive and gaskets to protect the speaker holes and other ingress points from water intrusion, so the âiPad miniâ's design would be radically different. The current âiPad miniâ does not have an official water resistance rating and it is not safe to get it wet.
With an OLED display, water resistance, a new speaker system, and a faster chip, the device is expected to be more expensive, and Apple could charge up to $100 more for the device. The âiPad miniâ is currently priced starting at $499. Apple will purportedly launch the âiPad miniâ 8 with OLED display in the third quarter of next year at the earliest.
We also discuss further thoughts on the M5 Vision Pro, weighing up its utility for travel and day-to-day use-case, and take a look at the growing differentiation and optionality within Apple's product lineups.
This episode is sonsored by uncommon goods and notion. Visit the links below for more details:
Visit https://www.uncommongoods.com/mac for 15% off
Visit https://www.notion.com/macrumors to try Notion and Notion Agent today!
The AI-powered Podcast Player
Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
