What to Count on From Apple’s 2024 iPad Mini 7
Whereas Apple refreshed the iPad Professional and the iPad Air in Might, the iPad mini continues to be in want of an replace. Apple final launched a brand new iPad mini in September 2021, so it is overdue for an overhaul.
Rumors counsel that Apple has plans to refresh its smallest pill in 2024, and this information highlights the entire rumors we have heard in regards to the system up to now.
Show and Design
We have not heard rumors of design modifications for the iPad mini, which suggests it’s going to possible function the identical 8.3-inch measurement and all-display design. The present iPad mini has a Contact ID Energy Button, which we’re additionally anticipating for the brand new mannequin.
Based on a 2023 rumor, Apple will make a small tweak to the iPad mini’s show in an effort to chop down on “jelly scrolling.” The display meeting can be rotated, which is meant to scale back the impact when utilizing the iPad mini in portrait orientation.
Jelly scrolling refers to noticeable lag when scrolling vertically by way of text-based context like a webpage. Every line seems to tilt downward towards the left of the display because it passes, which makes it appear like one facet of the show is responding quicker. Apple says that that is regular conduct for LCD iPads, however the firm nonetheless desires to make a change to reduce the impact.
A-Collection Chip
The iPad Professional and the iPad Air have M-series chips, however we’re not anticipating the iPad mini to get a Mac chip this yr. As an alternative, Apple is more likely to go along with the A17 Professional that was used within the iPhone 15 Professional fashions, or another A17 variant.
It is also attainable that the iPad mini will get an A18 chip if it comes after the iPhone 16 lineup, as rumors counsel the iPhone 16 fashions could have chips within the A18 household.
With an A17 Professional or higher, the iPad mini could be on par with or quicker than the iPhone 15 Professional fashions, nevertheless it will not have the speeds of the iPad Air or iPad Professional.
Apple is overhauling iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 with a concentrate on AI, so excessive powered chips are a should for upcoming gadgets.
New Colours
The iPad mini is out there in house grey, starlight, pink, and purple proper now. Apple typically refreshes coloration choices with updates, so new colours are a particular chance. With the iPad Air, which the iPad mini typically mimics, Apple removed pink.
If Apple makes the iPad mini obtainable in the identical colours because the iPad Air, it may are available house grey, purple, blue, and starlight.
Entrance Digital camera
Apple moved the front-facing digital camera on the iPad Air to the panorama fringe of the system, and it may make the identical change for the iPad mini. It might make much less sense to have a panorama digital camera on an iPad mini, although, as a result of it is much less typically used with keyboards.
The digital camera may get help for HDR 4 and it may have a wider aperture, if it adopts the digital camera used within the iPad Air.
Connectivity
Apple has been including Wi-Fi 6E to every product because it’s up to date, and it ought to be the iPad mini’s flip this yr. Wi-Fi 6E will enable the iPad mini to connect with the 6GHz Wi-Fi community on supported routers.
Bluetooth 5.3 can be anticipated, as that is one other replace Apple has been making to new gadgets, and the iPad mini may lose its nano-SIM slot, with Apple opting just for eSIM.
Apple Pencil Professional
The present iPad mini works with the Apple Pencil 2, so the brand new mannequin will possible help the Apple Pencil Professional. The Apple Pencil Professional has a squeeze gesture, haptic suggestions, a gyroscope for barrel roll help, and Discover My integration.
Apple Pencil hover may also be a brand new function, as the present iPad mini doesn’t help it.
Launch Date
Apple will possible launch a brand new iPad mini towards the tip of the yr, possible in September or October. In some years, Apple holds a particular October occasion for Macs and iPads, and we may get that in 2024.
MacBook Professional fashions, the Mac mini, and the low-cost iPad may all be refreshed alongside the iPad mini within the fall.
Future iPad mini Fashions
There are rumors that Apple is engaged on a foldable iPad mini and OLED show know-how for the iPad mini, however neither of those updates are anticipated in 2024.
OLED, a foldable iPad mini, or a foldable OLED iPad mini are applied sciences not anticipated till 2026, 2027, and even later.
