Apple's iPad mini 7 should arrive before the end of 2024 but don't expect a major overhaul. The iPad mini 6 was a serious upgrade that brought a new design to the table along with the A15 Bionic chip, Center Stage, and 5G.
To that end, the iPad mini 7 for 2024 is expected to be little more than a processor update, but that doesn't mean it won't be worth your time. But what can we expect from Apple's tiny tablet this time around? It's looking like little more than a processor bump at this stage. Here's everything we know about the iPad mini 7 so far.
iPad mini 7: Release date rumors
While renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated in December 2022, Kuo reported that Apple was working on an iPad mini and that it would be coming at the end of 2023 or the start of 2024, no new iPad mini has been forthcoming. Apple is reportedly planning a new OLED iPad Pro with M3 and a new iPad Air 6 for a launch in May of 2024. However, we're likely going to have to wait a bit longer for the iPad mini 7.
Our most recent and best information comes from top insider Mark Gurman. He reports that Apple's iPad mini is in development alongside a new iPad 11, but that neither is likely to arrive before the end of 2024 "at the earliest." As such, a fall launch of the new iPad mini is possible, but don't rule out early 2025 either.
(2/3)I think it's unlikely Apple will replace the iPad mini with a foldable iPad in 2025, which may be contrary to what some media previously predicted. It's because a foldable iPad will have a markedly higher price than an iPad mini, so such a replacement is not reasonable.December 27, 2022
iPad mini 7: New rumored features
The last update for the iPad mini was a big one so it's unlikely the iPad mini 7 will be quite as seismic. Instead, it's likely to be a more iterative update. Bloomerg's Mark Gurman reported in May that the new iPad mini 7 "won’t include much more than a processor upgrade."
However, there are a couple of features we're hopeful about. Here's what we're thinking.
Smart Connector
The iPad mini lacks a smart connector like the bigger iPad models. If Apple were to add one to the next iPad mini, it would bring its feature set in line. Such a connector would mean you could hook up a keyboard like you can with the iPad Pro or the iPad 10th gen. Count on seeing special attachments to expand your options too if this happens.
A17 processor
Fresh leaks from within Apple's code in July point to the iPad mini 7 getting Apple's potent A17 chip, borrowed from the iPhone 15 Pro. According to reports, Apple is planning two iPad mini models, a Wi-Fi, and a Cellular version, both equipped with the A17 chip. Apple's A17 Bionic chip comes with six cores, four efficiency and two performance, along with 8GB of LPDDR5.
It's unclear if Apple will use the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro, or a slightly dumbed-down version dubbed A17 Bionic. If it's the fully-fledged Pro version, the new iPad mini 7 could support hardware-accelerated ray-tracing and Apple Intelligence. If it's not the whole hog, some features might not make the cut.
Design
Given that the iPad mini 6 was a big design shake-up, it's unlikely that the outward appearance of the tablet is going to change at all. More likely is a selection of new colors. The latest iPad 10th gen comes in cool shades like yellow so we might see that with the new iPad mini. Leaks regarding the iPhone 15 Pro suggest a new deep, wine-like red color so we could see the iPad mini 7 available in this color scheme too.
Display
One of the biggest problems with the previous iPad mini 6 was the Jelly Scrolling that came with its screen. Users found that when scrolling on the iPad mini 6, there was a small delay on the screen that created a wobbling effect akin to Jelly. It’s due to the refresh rate of the LED screen.
There are reports that Apple won't update the iPad mini 7 to a 120Hz ProMotion display. Instead, Apple is expected to rotate the display materials to make jelly scrolling less pronounced in portrait mode.
There is a new rumor as well that the next iPad mini might have the OLED panel from the recently released iPad Pro M4 models — and according to reports, it looks like Samsung has already started screen creation ready to be checked by Apple. That could also mean we might see ProMotion, and the final nail in the coffin of the Jelly Scrolling phenomenon.
I would be surprised since it is currently an a-Si LCD which isn't compatible with ProMotion. Only their Pro models support ProMotion as they use an Oxide LCD.June 28, 2022
iPad Mini 7: Price
The iPad mini 6 costs a lot more than the iPad mini 5, so it's unlikely we'll see much of a price increase with the iPad mini 7. Apple tends to increase prices substantially when it's revamped something like with the iPad 10th gen. Iterative updates generally cost similar sums to the previous model.
If that happens, the iPad mini 7 would retail from around $499, with increases for the cellular version and more storage.
If the rumors about the OLED panel are correct, however, then we might see a rise in the price tag. The newly released iPad Pro models with OLED panels both saw the prices rise by $200, so we might see something similar with the iPad mini 7.
What we’d like to see from the iPad mini 7
The iPad mini continues to be one of our favorite tablets in the iPad lineup, easily deserving its place among the best iPads. Rumors around what might happen next only make us more excited for an update. In the meantime, if you're looking for a currently released iPad, the best iPad deals can help.
Should I wait to upgrade my iPad mini?
We still don't know when the next iPad mini will come out, but it might still be worth waiting. The timeline makes sense to hold fire. At least for a couple more months in case of an event in October.
Alternatively, you could opt for an iPad Air, although you'll miss out on the smaller form factor. The iPad Pro provides more processing power, but again it's big. If you're desperate for a small tablet, waiting could be worth it.
Will the iPad mini 7 have wireless charging?
With almost every piece of new tech Apple has put out having wireless charging, it's likely the iPad mini 7 will follow suit.
Should I buy an iPad mini 6 now, or wait for the 7?
The iPad mini 6 is still on sale at the moment, but if you want the most up to date model then you should wait for the iPad mini 7 to be released. It looks like it will be coming later this year, so you don't have long to go iPad-less.
Of course, if you want to save money instead then now is a great time to buy an iPad mini 6, as the prices are dropping. Those prices could drop even further over the course of the year so it's well worth keeping an eye on them.
