Tim Hardwick
Apple is rumored to introduce the seventh generation iPad mini this year. Keep reading to find out what you can reportedly expect from Apple's small form factor tablet.
The current iPad mini was released in September 2021 and includes an 8.3-inch display, USB-C port, Touch ID power button, A15 Bionic chip, 5G support on cellular models, 12-megapixel rear camera , second support for the next-generation Apple Pencil, and much more.
Display changes
Rumor has it that the seventh-generation iPad mini's screen will be rotated to reduce the effect of “jelly scrolling” “, which some users of the current model have complained about when viewing in portrait orientation.
This term refers to the noticeable effect when vertically scrolling text content, such as a web page or document, in which every line The text appears slanted down towards the left edge of the screen as it passes. The effect makes it appear as if one side of the display responds faster than the other when you move your finger to scroll a page.
Apple says this is normal behavior on the LCD iPad, but based on user feedback, it may be more obvious and distracting when viewed on the iPad mini's smaller screen. Apple is reportedly planning to rotate the screen assembly to reduce scrolling jelly in portrait orientation, but it is unknown whether this will simply move the problem to landscape orientation.
Internal upgrades
We expect the seventh-generation iPad mini to be updated with a faster processor, most likely the A16 Bionic, although an A17 or even an M-series chip is possible.
If Apple chooses the A16 Bionic, it will put the “iPad mini” on par with the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. The chip will offer approximately 10% faster performance, 50% more GPU memory bandwidth, and a new image processor (ISP) compared to the current model.
The tablet will also likely feature Wi-Fi support. Fi 6E. and Bluetooth 5.3 are two of the newest standards that Apple has added in other recent product updates. Apple has already added support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 to the latest iPad Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, and most new Macs.
Camera upgrades
The iPad mini is expected to add updated front and rear cameras later this year. The current iPad mini uses the same cameras as all current iPad models: a 12-megapixel rear camera with ƒ/1.8 aperture and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle front camera with ƒ/2.4 aperture.
Given that it's been more than 850 days since the current iPad mini was released, updated cameras will almost certainly be included in the seventh-generation model.
New colors
According to some rumors, new color options will appear for the new iPad mini. The current iPad mini is available in Space Grey, Starlight, Pink and Purple.
There's no word on what colors Apple might use, but it could potentially take inspiration from its “standard iPhone 15 models”, which are available in black, blue, green, yellow and pink flowers.
What not to expect (yet)
120 Hz ProMotion
The new seventh-generation iPad mini will not feature a 120Hz ProMotion display, one of the alleged supply chain sources has said.
Suggestions that Apple could use ProMotion for the next-generation iPad mini began to attract attention when the “jelly scrolling” phenomenon was discovered shortly after the release of the iPad mini 6 in September 2021.
OLED display
After introducing OLED technology to the iPad Pro this year, Apple is rumored to be planning to bring OLED displays to the iPad mini in the future. but not until a couple of years later. According to separate reports, an iPad mini with an OLED display could be introduced in 2026.
Apple has apparently not yet fully committed to incorporating more advanced display technology into its mid-range tablets. class. and may be planning to analyze how the market will react to the first iPad Pro models with OLED displays, expected to be released as early as March 2024.
Foldable iPad Mini
Apple is rumored to be working on a 7- to 8-inch foldable device that could eventually replace Apple's 8.3-inch iPad mini.
Samsung Display and LG Display reportedly , has already sent samples of the 7-inch and 8-inch foldable panels to Apple since last year, but Apple is reportedly considering a launch timeline for the device between 2026 and 2027.
Launch date
Apple plans to refresh its entire iPad lineup during 2024, according to a November report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman However, while the iPad Pro and iPad Air models are expected to launch as early as March, the seventh-generation iPad mini could be a little further away Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said the iPad mini 7 will be the last one on Apple's 2024 iPad roadmap after first-quarter mass production plans were delayed until the second half of the year.
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