Instapaper developer Marco Arment has spotted two new iPad device codes in his logs that he believes represents the long rumored "iPad mini".
The new identifiers found were "iPad2,5" and "iPad2,6". As Arment notes, the iPad2,1 through iPad 2,3 designations are known to represent the iPad 2's WiFi, GSM and CDMA models. The iPad2,4 represents a die-shrunk/cheaper version of the iPad 2 that was released alongside the 3rd generation iPad. Finally, the 3rd Generation iPad carries a designation of iPad3,x.
As for "iPad2,5" and "iPad2,6", they have not been seen before, but Arment concludes they are likely to be the long rumored 'iPad mini' which is based on iPad 2 hardware.
The much more likely explanation is that iPad2,5 and iPad2,6 are the new “iPad Mini” in Wi-Fi and GSM, and I haven’t recorded the likely iPad2,7 CDMA version yet.
If so, this suggests that the iPad Mini is, effectively, an iPad 2: an A5 with 512 MB of RAM and enough GPU power to drive the Gruber Display, but not a Retina Display.
It’s a textbook Tim Cook supply-chain move: selling the last generation’s hardware at a lower price point to expand marketshare.
By "Gruber Display", Arment refers to John Gruber's speculation that a iPad Mini made sense as a 7.85" display that shares the same resolution as the original iPad (1024x768). Arment goes into a little further depth in his blog post about his speculation on the internals of the iPad mini.
Apple is believed to be launching a smaller 7.85" iPad in the coming months. Rumors have suggested we'll see it launched as early as October.
Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie.
"Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
Monday February 9, 2026 6:24 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.
The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future.
To set up the...
Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by Joe Rossignol
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more.
Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
New MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips could arrive as soon as Monday, March 2, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the release of new MacBook Pro models is tied to the release of macOS Tahoe 26.3. The launch is said to be slated for as early as the week of March 2. He added that the M4 Pro and M4 Max models on sale today...
Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works.
We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
But i frown upon 1024x768 because clearly you can see apple NOT pushing technology forward but going backwards. You want mass acceptance of 1024x768???
Technology isnt just spec numbers on a list. Technology is what you can DO with something. So many companies are circling the drain because they dont understand that.
The only way this will be popular enough is if the price point is $199. Please don't add $129 for LTE it's just apple's price gouging. I think $199 with LTE will just flatten the entire tablet market and apple will increase their domination.
WhenI mentioned this to be another 'garbage ipad' - i meant it figuratively because it does not bring anything innovative to the table. The iPad 2 is no weak sauce at all. Performance wise, it's still extremely solid performer. I just think if they can do $200 or lower with LTE, you are talking about crazy sales. I'd pick one up just for kicks because I can take it around much easier than my existing iPad 3.
But i frown upon 1024x768 because clearly you can see apple NOT pushing technology forward but going backwards. You want mass acceptance of 1024x768???
You want a 7.85" iPad with a higher than 1024x768 resolution, so retina screen and you want LTE, all for $199?!?!??
Apple has become the walmart of smartphones, tablets, and now mini-tablets.
I do not understand the appeal of a 1024x768 resolution tablet. Even at 7.85", it's merely 1.85" smaller than the iPad and if you look at the nexus 7, it has higher resolution than this ipad.
Unless they do something with the pixel density to make it look magical, it's just another garbage ipad. I like the the size but I do not like how apple recycles their components like this. There is nothing innovative at all.
Judging from the leaks on the iphone 2012, apple is on a downward trend of producing crap! I'm sorry but it seems after SJ has departed, apple is now run by bean counters in suits. I'm not surprised if jony ives decides to retire.
Apple has become the walmart of smartphones, tablets, and now mini-tablets.
I do not understand the appeal of a 1024x768 resolution tablet. Even at 7.85", it's merely 1.85" smaller than the iPad and if you look at the nexus 7, it has higher resolution than this ipad.
Unless they do something with the pixel density to make it look magical, it's just another garbage ipad. I like the the size but I do not like how apple recycles their components like this. There is nothing innovative at all.
Judging from the leaks on the iphone 2012, apple is on a downward trend of producing crap! I'm sorry but it seems after SJ has departed, apple is now run by bean counters in suits. I'm not surprised if jony ives decides to retire.
A lower-end model (cheaper, more portable, but otherwise the same as the outstanding iPad 2) is not a “downward trend.” It’s just a lower-end model. To see a trend you’d have to see Apple also eliminate the high-end iPad 3. You’d also have to use this new iPad before you judged it on rumor alone.
1024x768 may be the best solution for this unit. If so, a retina display will come in time, as prices for it fall. (You don’t see any other 8” 2048x1536 devices out there either.)
And the Nexus does have higher DPI—a side effect of having a much smaller screen than an 8” iPad would have! And yet an iPad mini might (we’ll see) fit that big(-ish) screen into a unit not much larger than a Nexus. The Nexus would be all the bulk but none of the screen size or app selection.
I have a question about this iPad mini. Will developers have to re make applications to fit the new screen size or will iOS automatically scale them down to fit on the screen?
scale what down? it's 1024x768 it runs all the ipad apps natively.
