iPad Mini 8 is anticipated to be one of the most exciting upcoming small tablets. Rumors and leaks from multiple sources point to major upgrades over the last iPad Mini.
iPad Mini 8 Expected Release Date
There is a strong chance Apple will unveil the iPad Mini 8 somewhere between August-October 2026. While apple hasn’t announced anything officially, 2026 is Apple’s 50th anniversary year, and the company is expected to launch a large lineup of devices.
iPad Mini 8 Expected specs
| Device | iPad Mini 8 |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | Q3-Q4 2026 |
| Display | OLED, 8.3-8.5″ |
| Camera | 12 MP Both |
| SoC | Apple A19 Pro |
OLED Display
The most exciting rumor is that the iPad mini 8 will have an OLED screen, which would be the first time the iPad mini gets this premium display outside the Pro series. If that actually happens it will be a big upgrade from the LCD display on Mini 7. Instant Digital on Weibo wrote that the Mini series is likely to get a display upgrade before the Air, although it is a Chinese translation.
- Size – Around 8.3-8.5 inches.
- OLED benefits – Deeper blacks, higher contrast and better viewing angles compared to LCD panels.
That being said we can expect an OLED panel but no positive leaks about higher refresh rate. It is highly likely that the iPad Mini 8 will stick to a 60Hz refresh rate.
A19 Pro Chip
The iPad Mini 7 had the chip of that year’s latest iPhones (A17 Pro). By that logic the iPad Mini 8 should have the A19 Pro SOC which is also used in the iPhone 17 Pro series. Code leaks have also suggested multiple models (J510 and J511), indicating Apple may release different variants of the next gen iPad Mini.
Other Rumors about the iPad Mini series
Water resistant design
Apple may finally make the iPad mini series water resistant something iPads have lacked compared to iPhones.
- New vibration based speaker design that eliminate speaker holes. This could help with IP ratings.
Connectivity Upgrades
While not confirmed, expect Apple to bring newer generation of Wi-Fi and Blluetooth to the Mini iPad. Also the new N1 chip which they already used in the iPhone 17 series and 5G support for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
iPad Mini 8 Expected Price
Most leaks don’t point to an exact change in price but addition of an OLED screen could push the iPad Mini 8’s starting price higher than its previous gen. You can expect a bump of around $50 – $100 more than the current model.
- Previous Mini model started at about $499 USD.
- iPad Mini 8 base price could start at around $549 – $600 USD.
Though this remains speculative until Apple announces official pricing. We’ll update this page as new information surfaces. Stay tuned.
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