When it comes to small tablets, Apple's iPad mini continues to be the first to come to mind. Not just because it's one of the only tiny slabs around, but also because it's one of the best tablets today. So, it makes sense that an iPad mini 8 would be a hotly anticipated device.
After all, the iPad mini 7 delivers a full tablet experience in a comfortably small, portable design. Its size alone makes it great for scrolling through websites, reading, drawing and gaming while on the go. And Apple's rumored next-gen mini tablet is already expected to deliver some worthwhile upgrades.
The wait for Apple's iPad mini 8 may not be as long as we once thought, especially compared to the three-year gap between the iPad mini 7 and mini 6. With the rumor mill spilling the beans on an upgraded chip and OLED displays, there's a lot to look forward to with the next iPad mini.
Whether you're looking forward to Apple's iPad mini successor or wondering if it's worth the wait, here's what you need to know about the rumored iPad mini 8.
iPad mini 8: When will it arrive?
- It's coming next year. That much all the reports can agree on!
- One report claimed early 2026, while another reported a Fall 2026 launch window.
- iPad mini launches have been very sporadic and randomly timed, so no real consistency to make an educated guess.
Landing on a window when the iPad mini 8 comes out has been tricky. There have been two conflicting reports on this tablet, so let me take you through them.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman made the claim that iPad mini 8 was set to arrive in early 2026. However, most recently, Instant Digital predicted late 2026 on Weibo.
Given the rumored specs (more on those in a second), I'm personally leaning more towards the latter, as this could be a drastic overhaul of the mini slab.
But despite leaks and rumors cropping up, Apple's release schedule for its iPad mini lineup has been patchy. So with this device, it's always a little hard to tell.
iPad mini 8: Performance
- Rumored to get A20 Pro — the same chip that may also power the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
- Apple's first 2nm processor, which is expected to deliver up to 15% improved performance and 30% better power efficiency.
Up until this point, the rumor mill was all aligned around one key spec point of the iPad mini 8 — that it is expected to use the same A19 Pro chip as the high-end iPhone 17 Pro models. This came from accidental code leaked from Apple, showing that a next-gen iPad mini is very much on the way.
But the Cupertino crew could be cooking a surprise, as tipster Kang reported that the new iPad mini could sport A20 Pro. That's right, the chip you'll be seeing come to the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
We've been seeing some details drop about A20 Pro over the past few months, and this is looking like another generational upshift moment for Apple — moving from the 3nm process used by TSMC to make the company's previous chips to 2nm.
That means a whole lot more transistors packed into the same amount of space, which leads to better performance (10-15% uplift predicted) and improved power efficiency (up to 30%).
These will be some impressive gains that factor into zipper CPU speeds, dramatically improved graphics and face-melting AI performance. But of course, we're in conflicting rumor territory, so consider this your guide.
- If it launches early 2026, iPad mini 8 will get A19 Pro.
- If it launches late 2026, chances are it'll get the A20 Pro.
iPad mini 8: OLED display?
- Apple is leaning a lot more into OLED across its products in 2026 — iPad mini 8 looks set to get the upgrade.
- No word on whether it will be tandem OLED like the M5 iPad Pro.
We've heard plenty about Apple bringing an OLED display to the MacBook Pro, and we've already seen one shine on the M4 iPad Pro. Will the iPad mini 8 be lucky enough to get one? Possibly, if leaks ring true.
Rumor has it that an OLED iPad mini is set to arrive in 2026. This comes from display analyst Ross Young, with the report hinting that the first OLED iPad will be an 8.5-inch iPad mini.
This could launch as soon as early 2026, although the most recent launch has seen Apple's smaller tablet come around the fall. Some believe it's set to arrive in 2027 instead, seeing as OLED MacBooks are now tipped to come in 2027, too.
Either way, it's unclear when we'll see an iPad mini 8 arrive, and whether this will be the model that comes with an OLED panel. We'd hope so, but in any case, this would be the biggest design change to come to the
iPad mini 8: Outlook
This latest report has made the question of what the iPad mini 8 will be offering a complicated one. Because there's a world where Apple announces this in early 2026 and you get A19 Pro alongside that rumored OLED panel.
OR (and this is my bet), you'll get it in the fall, and then it'll sport the A20 Pro. That would be a tasty proposition for anyone looking to upgrade or jump into the ultraportable iPad family.
Will it arrive alongside the expected M6 MacBook Pro this fall or come along early next year? Whatever the case, it's only a matter of months until we find out. In the meantime, you can check out why the iPad mini still ranks at the top of our list of best iPads.
