The iPad mini's biggest update in 5 years is expected this fall - here's what we know

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• The next iPad mini is rumored to feature an OLED panel and a more powerful processor.
• The new iPad mini is expected as early as fall 2026.
• A new base iPad, potentially compatible with Apple Intelligence, is also rumored for early next year.

Apple is planning the biggest upgrade to its iPad mini in five years, with supply chain rumors indicating the smallest iPad will feature an OLED panel for the first time. 

The iPad mini is currently an 8.3-inch tablet with an LCD Liquid Retina display. The new OLED panel would give the iPad mini deeper blacks, higher contrast, better HDR performance, and, potentially, improved battery efficiency.

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As an entertainment tablet, the improved display would offer richer colors for an upgraded streaming experience, as well as for gaming, photo and video editing, and reading. 

The new iPad mini is expected to feature Apple's A19 Pro chip, which supports Apple Intelligence. The current iPad mini features the A17 Pro, which also supports Apple's AI platform and features, but the upgrade to the A19 Pro would deliver faster performance with stronger processing power. The upgrade will be most evident in demanding tasks, like video and photo editing, but should also make AI tasks and games run faster and smoother.

These upgrades should give the iPad mini a firmer, broader footing, moving it from an entertainment-focused tablet to one that can transition smoothly into work, especially with the improved processor.

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Though an OLED upgrade appears imminent, Apple is not expected to increase the iPad mini's refresh rate, which is rumored to remain at up to 60Hz. The iPad Pro features an OLED display and ProMotion, which gives the Pro model a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, offering more fluid image transitions and a smoother Apple Pencil performance.

Still, the OLED panel on the iPad mini will make the display look much better than the current LCD, but motion will remain the same as the current iPad mini's with its Liquid Retina Display.

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The new iPad mini is expected to be released as early as October 2026 and could cost $100 more than the current model, bringing its starting price to $699.

Apple is also rumored to release a new base model iPad, but that's not expected until early 2027. The 12th-generation iPad is expected to feature an A18 or A19 processor and likely 8GB of RAM, bringing Apple Intelligence to the most affordable iPad. 

Unlike the iPad mini, Apple's base iPad isn't expected to receive major updates, solidifying its position in Apple's tablet lineup as the most affordable iPad.