iPad Mini Update: Will It Finally Feature the A20 Pro Chip?

Upcoming Redesign of the iPad Mini

The current iPad mini, released in October 2024, features the A17 Pro chip. Apple is reportedly planning a significant overhaul of its compact tablet for 2026. Although it will not switch to an M-class chip from the Mac, as seen in the iPad Air or iPad Pro, the next iteration of the iPad mini is expected to make a substantial leap to the A20 Pro chip, which will also be featured in the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro. The tech website MacRumors has discovered references in Apple’s code that indicate this future chip, which will be the first to boast TSMC’s 2nm process technology. This advancement promises enhanced energy efficiency, albeit at a higher manufacturing cost.

Caution and Speculation from MacRumors

MacRumors has approached its findings with caution, having been the source of a previous leak in August: mentions of an iPad mini equipped with the A19 Pro chip were found within Apple’s code. It remains unclear whether this was a prototype used to test other features of the tablet while awaiting the availability of the A20 Pro chip. However, the timeline for the A20 Pro chip aligns well with expectations, as the latest rumors suggest a launch could happen in the third quarter of 2026 at the earliest, with the iPhone 18 Pro anticipated for release in September.

Major Enhancements Expected for the Next iPad Mini

While the exact details of the main chip remain uncertain, major upgrades are expected for the next year’s iPad mini. These upgrades are likely to include an OLED display (possibly supporting ProMotion), a sleeker and waterproof design with a new speaker system based on vibration technology, an increase from 8GB to 12GB of RAM, the new Apple N1 chip for managing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and likely the Apple C1 or C1X modem for cellular models. According to Mark Gurman, this move upmarket may also lead to an increase in price.