Leaked details point to major iPad Mini 8 upgrades

Bloomberg reports and snippets of leaked Apple code suggest the iPad Mini 8 could arrive as soon as October with several notable hardware changes, potentially making it the most significant update to the compact tablet since the iPad Mini 7.

At the center of the leaks is a shift from LCD to an OLED display, which would bring deeper blacks, richer color and stronger contrast. It remains unclear whether Apple will include ProMotion with refresh rates up to 120Hz; one recent report says the new mini could instead stay limited to 60Hz.

If confirmed, the OLED panel and a move to Apple’s A20 Pro chip would represent the biggest iPad mini upgrades in years.

Reports name the A20 Pro as the likely processor, a change that could deliver a substantial performance uplift and, according to the rumors, help enable more advanced Siri AI features expected in iOS 27. Those claims remain company-level and reporting-level speculation until Apple confirms them.

Leaked images found in Apple’s code point to physical changes as well. The front-facing camera appears to be shifting to a landscape orientation along the longer edge of the display, matching the camera placement on Apple’s newer iPad models. The display glass may include a small groove at the top for the speaker, while the volume and power buttons are said to stay on the top edge.

Apple is also reportedly testing a vibration-based speaker system that would eliminate traditional speaker holes. Bloomberg previously said the redesigned speaker approach could help Apple improve water resistance, and that the company is testing a casing that would offer protection similar to iPhone models.

Other details are modest: the iPad Mini 8 is rumored to have a slightly larger display, though exact dimensions have not been revealed. Apple raised the starting price of the current iPad Mini from $499 to $599 in July, and analysts expect an OLED upgrade could push the price higher, though no official pricing exists.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has suggested Apple could launch the device by the end of October.