Code found inside Apple’s own software reportedly identifies the next iPad mini as running an A20 Pro chip, according to MacRumors. That would place the alleged chip two full generations beyond the A17 Pro in the current model, making it the sharpest hardware signal yet for a device Apple has not officially acknowledged.
The timing is relevant if you are weighing a purchase decision. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reportedly placed the release by the end of October 2026, which means the wait, if the window holds, is measured in weeks rather than months.
The code imagery reported by MacRumors also points to a relocated front-facing camera, moving it from the top bezel to the landscape-side bezel. That would bring the mini in line with other recent iPad models. The reported product icon also shows a small speaker cutout along the top edge, consistent with separate reporting from 9to5Mac about a vibration-based speaker system.
Prior reporting cited by 9to5Mac expects the next iPad mini to swap its LCD panel for OLED, with a screen that may measure slightly larger than the current 8.3 inches. Gurman has also reported a redesigned, more water-resistant casing, though no specific IP rating has been confirmed.
For context, the 2024 iPad mini ships with an A17 Pro chip and an 8.3-inch LCD display running at 326 pixels per inch. The A20 Pro would represent two full chip generations beyond the A17 Pro currently inside that model.
Apple has not confirmed any of the rumored specifications, including the chip, display technology, camera placement, audio redesign, or water-resistance claims.
If you have no urgent need right now, the reported October window is short enough that waiting is a reasonable call.
