It’s been a long time since Apple has raved about its most portable iPad lineup. Apple launched the iPad Mini 6 in September 2021. Since then, the giant has released two generations of the iPad Air and iPad Pro, as well as a new iPad. Now that it’s been three years since Apple launched the current iPad mini, it’s definitely time for an update. The good news is that the Cupertino tech giant is planning to refresh its most portable tablet in 2024. The new iPad mini could be peppered with AI galore, making it a substantial upgrade over the current iPad mini 6. Here’s everything we know about the iPad mini 7 so far.
Unchanged design
If you’re hoping to see major design changes in the upcoming iPad mini 7, prepare to be disappointed. As of now, there are no rumors or leaks hinting at a design change for the iPad mini. Last year, the iPad mini 6 arrived with a major overhaul over the iPad mini 5, which brought the portable tablet in line with the iPad Pro and iPad Air. This year, the iPad mini 7 is most likely to feature the same 8.3-inch size with an all-screen look and square design. Until we see major design changes on the Air and Pro models, the iPad mini shouldn’t change much. Much like the iPad mini 6, the upcoming model will feature a Touch ID power button and a USB-C charging port.
Display improvements
While the design will likely remain the same, we will definitely see some display improvements on the iPad Mini 7. While there are no concrete details, it will be annoying to see no improvements on the mini’s display even after 3 years of waiting. As of December 2023, there were ET News reports An OLED display is in the works for the iPad mini and Air, but it’s not expected until 2026. So if the speculated iPad mini 7 release date is correct, the OLED panel will likely come to the 8th-generation iPad mini.
That being said, Apple will likely make some changes to the iPad mini’s display to solve the infamous “jelly scrolling” problem once and for all. For reference, jelly scrolling is a display phenomenon that gives the illusion that one side of the screen is responding faster than the other. You’ll notice a noticeable lag when scrolling through a web page in portrait orientation. Apple says that this is normal for an LCD display to exhibit this behavior, but they’re seriously considering making a change to minimize this effect.
There are some rumors that Apple could introduce ProMotion technology to the iPad mini for an ultra-smooth scrolling experience. For now, this technology is limited to the high-end iPad Pro, iPhone Pro, and MacBook Pro models. While the exact plans remain unclear, Apple will certainly introduce some design changes such as rotating the display assembly to solve jelly scrolling issues. This means jelly scrolling shouldn’t be a big issue on the upcoming iPad Mini 7.
New chipset with support for Apple Intelligence
Of course, we will see a processor upgrade on the iPad mini 7. The current iPad mini 6 features the A15 Bionic chipset, which is the same as the iPhone 13 series. Last year, there were rumors that the new iPad mini would feature an A16 Bionic chip, like the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 models. However, that doesn’t seem to be happening now. Wait, wait, there’s no need to be disappointed because the new rumors are much more interesting.
Since the new iPads, Macs, and iPhones support Apple Intelligence, the upcoming iPad mini is also set to make a difference. The current iPad and iPad mini don’t support AI features. If the mini 7 were equipped with an A16 Bionic chip, it wouldn’t support AI. That’s because only the A17 Pro and M-series processors have the computing power to support Apple Intelligence features. So there are two options: an M-series chip like iPads and Macs, or an A17 Pro (or newer) chipset like iPhones. We don’t expect the iPad mini to get a Mac chip this year. Apple will likely opt for the A17 Pro chipset or some other upgraded chipset that supports Apple Intelligence instead.
Given that the iPad mini isn’t an entry-level tablet and is more akin to the iPad Air than the regular iPad, it makes sense to assume that Apple will add AI features to the new device. It’s possible that the iPad mini 7 will feature an A18 chipset, which will debut with the upcoming iPhone 16 models. With an A17 Pro chipset or newer, the iPad mini 7 will be on par with the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 models. Sure, it won’t be as powerful as the new iPad Air or Pro models, but users should see a noticeable performance boost.
Camera Upgrades
Honestly, the camera isn’t a major selling point for the iPad mini series. But after several years without any upgrades, the giant might introduce some modest changes to its portable tablet lineup. The 12MP rear camera is expected to remain the same.
With the 2024 iPad Air, Apple moved the front-facing camera to the tablet’s landscape orientation for a more comfortable video conferencing experience, bringing it in line with the more expensive iPad Pro models. Apple could offer the same 12MP ultra-wide selfie camera on the upcoming iPad mini 7. If true, the iPad mini 7’s camera will have a wider aperture and support HDR 4.
Improved connectivity
Apple is adopting the Wi-Fi 6E standard as it adds new products to its product lines. Currently, the iPad Air M2, iPad Pro M2 and M4, iPad Pro 4th and 6th generation, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max support the faster Wi-Fi 6E standard. Macs released in 2023 and 2024 also supports Wi-Fi 6E networks. Now it’s the turn of the iPad mini range.
The upcoming iPad mini 7 is expected to allow its users to connect to the 6GHz Wi-Fi band on compatible routers and enjoy those blazingly fast speeds. Another expectation is support for Bluetooth 5.3. Additionally, Apple could ditch the physical SIM slot and introduce eSIM variants only in select countries.
Apple Pencil Pro support
Apple launched the new Apple Pencil Pro in May, alongside the 2024 iPad Air and iPad Pro models. The new Apple Pencil offers additional features like a squeeze gesture, a roll gesture, and Find My integration. At the moment, only the new Air and Pro models are the only iPads that support the Apple Pencil Pro. The current iPad mini 6 supports the Apple Pencil 2, and the upcoming iPad mini 7 is expected to work with the improved Apple Pencil Pro. This will give you a more precise writing and drawing experience that mimics the real-world feel of pen on paper.
Possible color options
Image courtesy of Apple
The current iPad Mini 6 comes in Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight. With new models, Apple usually offers updated color options, so we can expect to see new colors for the iPad Mini 7. Apple discontinued the Pink color option with the iPad Air M2 launching in May 2024. The iPad Mini usually follows the Air’s footprint, so we could see Apple replace the Pink color option with the new Mini 7.
If it mimics the iPad Air, the iPad Mini 7 could come in Space Gray, Violet, Starlight, and Blue finishes. While the pastel hues are gorgeous, a Space Black iPad Mini is still an absolute dream for me.
Potential iPad Mini 7 release date
Given Apple’s usual schedule, the giant typically launches a new iPad mini toward the end of the year, most likely in September or October. Sometimes, Apple holds a special event in October to unveil its new iPads and Macs. This time, it’s possible that Apple will launch the new iPad mini 7 at its iPhone 16 launch event on September 9, which will start at 10 a.m. PT. Mark Gurman has indicated that current inventory of the iPad Mini 6 is quite low in stores, which could be a sign that Apple is making room for the new model.
Many Apple stores are out of stock of the iPad mini in multiple configurations, while the device is considered “restricted” internally at Apple, I’m told. This *could* be a sign that a new model is coming. It hasn’t been updated since 2021. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it updated for AI. – Mark Gurman (@markgurman) August 26, 2024
So we could see an iPad Mini 7 on September 9, 2024. If we don’t see an iPad mini by that date, Apple could announce it via a press release in October.
iPad mini 7 expected price
As for the iPad mini 7 price, current rumors point to a price of $499 for the Wi-Fi model, which is the same as the current iPad mini 6. The Wi-Fi + Cellular version is expected to start at $649. Rumors have already circulated that Apple will reduce the price of the iPad mini 7 to match the $399 price of the old iPad mini 7. However, recent rumors do not suggest this. Also, since the next iPad mini is expected to feature a better display, a more powerful processor, and support for Apple Intelligence, we may not see any price cut.
Here are all the iPad mini 7 rumors so far. We’ll update this article as soon as we spot another serious leak. Stay tuned!
What would you like to see in the next iPad mini? Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments below.
