OnePlus Pad Mini Set for 2026 Debut: Could It Outshine the iPad Mini?

OnePlus has consistently delivered top-notch tech products, making it no shocker that their OnePlus Pad 3 is currently the top Android tablet on the market. However, for those seeking a high-quality tablet with a more manageable screen size, there’s no need to default to the iPad mini 7.

According to the leaker Digital Chat Station, OnePlus is developing a more compact iteration of their tablet, provisionally named the OnePlus Pad Mini. Unlike the lesser OnePlus Pad Lite, this new model is intended to maintain a high-end status.

This suggests that the OnePlus Pad Mini will be a scaled-down version of its predecessors, maintaining premium features and specifications without cutting corners to reduce costs.

According to the leaker, the OnePlus Pad Mini is currently undergoing testing with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 chipset, slated for release later this year as the successor to the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the current best chip available for Android devices.

The OnePlus Pad Mini might thus have an edge over Apple’s smallest iPad, especially if it shares the same advanced processor as upcoming OnePlus flagship models.

Despite our fondness for the iPad mini 7, it lacks the performance capabilities of other Apple tablets. This is mainly because it uses the older A17 Pro chipset, initially introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro, whereas newer models like the iPad Air and iPad Pro benefit from the more powerful M3 and M4 chips. Consequently, the larger models offer significantly enhanced performance and efficiency.

Expected Features of the OnePlus Pad Mini

The OnePlus Pad Mini is poised to offer impressive performance, a noticeable upgrade from the MediaTek Helio G100 found in the Pad Lite and even the first-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite in the OnePlus Pad 3.

The exact screen size remains unconfirmed, but Digital Chat Station suggests that the tablet will debut alongside a 6.3-inch OnePlus phone — reportedly the OnePlus 15T. Therefore, the Pad Mini’s screen is likely to be slightly larger but still noticeably smaller than the 13.2-inch predecessor, possibly around 8 to 9 inches.

The mention of a simultaneous release with the OnePlus 15T gives pause, considering the recent launch of the OnePlus 13T in May. This could potentially mean a nearly two-year wait for the OnePlus Pad Mini, which isn’t ideal.

However, Digital Chat Station indicates that the OnePlus Pad Mini is expected to launch early next year, suggesting there might have been some miscommunication or mistranslation. It remains to be seen whether OnePlus will skip the OnePlus 14 model, as it did with the OnePlus 4.

In the meantime, explore our list of the best tablets currently available.

• M5 iPad Pro: Everything we know so far
• Forget the iPad mini — this 9-inch OLED Android tablet is way better for gaming
• iPadOS 26 public beta — 5 features I’d try first