A new iPad mini is on the way, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, and Apple appears to be preparing its most powerful compact tablet yet. Codenamed J510 and J511, the upcoming iPad mini 8 has surfaced in internal Apple code, confirming that development is well underway. Based on multiple leaks and supply chain reports, the next iPad mini will combine the A19 Pro chip with a major display shift to OLED, marking the most significant upgrade in the model’s history.
The iPad mini 8 is expected to adopt the A19 Pro chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air. Apple’s A19 Pro is built on the advanced 3-nanometer N3P process, offering improved performance and power efficiency. The chip features a 6-core CPU, a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine optimized for on-device AI. Users can expect smoother multitasking, faster graphics rendering, and native support for Apple Intelligence tools like writing assistance, smart replies, and visual generation through Image Playground.
The A19 Pro also includes a larger cache, unified image compression, and neural accelerators integrated within each GPU core. This architecture enables up to 3× higher peak GPU compute compared to the A17 Pro used in the iPad mini 7. Apple’s emphasis on AI efficiency and GPU power suggests that the mini 8 will feel much closer to a Pro-tier device, even in its compact form.
On the display side, the iPad mini 8 is rumored to make the long-awaited transition from LCD to OLED. Industry reports indicate that Samsung Display has been developing 8-inch OLED panels for Apple, with mass production expected in the second half of 2025. This aligns with predictions that Apple will launch the iPad mini 8 in 2026, alongside a refreshed iPad Air lineup.
OLED technology will bring deeper blacks, higher contrast, and improved energy efficiency compared to the current 60 Hz LCD panel. The new screen could slightly increase in size from 8.3 inches to about 8.7 inches while keeping the same overall footprint through slimmer bezels. However, it is unlikely to include ProMotion or a high refresh rate. Instead, Apple may opt for a single-stack LTPS OLED rather than the dual-stack LTPO panel used in the iPad Pro to manage cost and battery performance.
Early indications also suggest that the iPad mini 8 will retain its signature lightweight design while gaining support for Apple Pencil Pro and possibly Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. The 12MP front and rear cameras are expected to return, enhanced by computational improvements from the A19 Pro’s image signal processor. Apple seems to be refining the formula rather than reinventing it, focusing on efficiency, portability, and display quality.
As for pricing, no solid reports are suggesting Apple will raise or lower the current $499 starting price. Gurman has hinted that Apple might consider introducing a more affordable mini variant to stay competitive against cheaper tablets, but nothing concrete has surfaced. For now, users looking for a budget option can still consider the 10th-generation iPad, which balances cost and functionality effectively.
