A recent leak lists 10 features expected for the next-generation iPad mini, chief among them Apple’s A20 Pro chip, an OLED display, a landscape front camera and a redesigned speaker system.
iPad mini 8: Key hardware upgrades
The A20 Pro chip will be manufactured on TSMC’s 2nm process and is expected to deliver up to around 1.5× faster CPU performance and up to around 2.5× faster GPU performance compared with the A17 Pro in the current iPad mini. The A20 Pro also introduces a “dual 16-core Neural Engine,” for a total of 32 cores.
With the A20 Pro, the next iPad mini is expected to include 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB in the current model. That increased memory will support the ability to customize the pace and expressiveness of Siri AI’s voice.
The display is expected to switch from LCD to OLED, offering richer colors, a higher contrast ratio and true blacks. The new screen is also reported to feature slimmer bezels compared with the current model.
The front camera will move to a landscape position: the camera is said to sit in the right bezel when the device is held upright.
Apple’s custom-designed N1 chip is expected to bring Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support. For cellular configurations, the device may use Apple’s custom C1X or C2 modem.
A redesigned speaker system is listed among the changes: the new design would have no speaker holes and could include an iPhone-style earpiece speaker in the top bezel.
For the first time, the iPad mini is expected to receive IP-rated water resistance.
Apple is expected to announce the iPad mini 8 this year, with an October launch most likely.
In the U.S., the current iPad mini starts at $599 after a $100 price increase in June that Apple attributed to skyrocketing RAM and storage chip prices. Given the switch to an OLED display, the next model might be even more expensive.
