Kuo: iPad Mini 6 Delayed Until Second Half of 2021

According to reliable supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple plans to release the sixth-generation iPad mini in the second half of this year, indicating an even more delayed launch for the small form-factor iPad.

ipad mini 6 screen increase feature
In a note related to the launch of an 8-inch foldable iPhone in 2023, Kuo said that recent global changes have helped grow ‌iPad‌ sales and the newly released 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models are expected to bolster sales forward. In addition, Kuo said that the new ‌iPad mini‌ in the second half of this year will further help grow the ‌iPad‌ business.

Kuo and DigiTimes had previously indicated that the new ‌iPad mini‌ would launch in the first half of this year. Possibly due to supply restraints, the new low-cost ‌iPad‌ now seems to have been delayed to the second half of 2021.

The new ‌iPad mini‌ is expected to feature an 8.4-inch display with slimmer bezels and continue to feature a Touch ID Home Button and a Lightning port. The new ‌iPad‌ could be a disappointment for customers hoping the smallest form-factor ‌iPad‌ would benefit from a major redesign, such as the changes seen with the iPad Air and ‌iPad Pro‌.

More long-term, Kuo reports that Apple is working on an iPad mini with a mini-LED display, which recently debuted in the 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌. Compared to the current LCD displays, mini-LED on the ‌iPad mini‌ would help deliver richer blacks, while providing improved contrast and HDR.

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

ios 18 4 carplay

Apple Upgrades CarPlay in Two Ways

Wednesday March 12, 2025 6:05 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 18.4 update for the iPhone includes a smaller but meaningful improvement for Apple's in-car iPhone mirroring system CarPlay. Specifically, CarPlay now shows a third row of icons, up from two rows previously. However, this change is only visible in vehicles with a larger center display. For example, a MacRumors Forums member noticed the change in a Toyota Tundra with a...
Apple More Personal Siri Ad

John Gruber Says 'Something is Rotten' at Apple

Wednesday March 12, 2025 7:39 pm PDT by
Daring Fireball's John Gruber today shared some strongly-worded comments about Apple's delayed personalized Siri features. Gruber is a well-known Apple pundit who has been writing about the company for more than two decades. In a blog post titled "Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino," Gruber said Apple's credibility has been "damaged" by the delay:Keynote by keynote, product by...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3 Launch Now Just Months Away: Here's What We Know

Tuesday March 11, 2025 3:26 am PDT by
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for. Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as excellent for...
Apple Maps vs Google Maps Feature

iOS 18.4 Adds a Highly-Requested Setting to iPhones — But Not in U.S.

Wednesday March 12, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
iPhones are finally getting a much-requested setting, but availability is limited. The upcoming iOS 18.4 update introduces an option to set a default navigation app, other than Apple Maps, but unfortunately this new setting is limited to users in the EU. There, you can now set an app like Google Maps or Waze as your default navigation app on the iPhone by opening the Settings app and tapping ...
iphone 17 pro asherdipps

iPhone 17 Pro Max Rumors Allegedly Refer to 'iPhone 17 Ultra' Model

Friday March 14, 2025 7:56 am PDT by
If you've been following iPhone rumors over the last few years, you may remember reading reports that Apple flirted with the idea of introducing a super high-end "Ultra" model that would either replace its Pro Max device or sit above it in Apple's smartphone hirearchy. These reports appeared in the pre-launch iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 rumor cycles, but ultimately came to nothing. Now though, the...
iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro Machined Parts Leak Reflects Camera Redesign Rumors

Thursday March 13, 2025 3:07 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to feature a significant design overhaul, and a new image apparently taken on an assembly line for the unreleased devices appears to confirm the biggest rumored change. Render of an iPhone 17 Pro model shared by Jon Prosser The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are rumored to adopt a horizontal camera bar reminiscent of Google's Pixel...
Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock Light

iOS 19 Will Bring Biggest Design Overhaul Since iOS 7

Monday March 10, 2025 12:17 pm PDT by
Apple is planning for a major design overhaul of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac interfaces with the introduction of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 later this year, reports Bloomberg. The update will "fundamentally change" the look of Apple's operating system, introducing a more consistent cross-platform experience. Apple plans to update the style of icons, menus, apps, windows, and system...
Sad Siri Feature

Kuo: Apple Knows Apple Intelligence is 'Underwhelming' and Won't Drive iPhone Upgrades

Thursday March 13, 2025 9:32 am PDT by
The Apple Intelligence features that Apple introduced with iOS 18 are not pushing people to upgrade their iPhones, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated today. Apple's recent Siri failures are also going to have an impact on 2025 iPhone shipments, which the market is beginning to realize. As early as last July, Kuo said expectations that Apple Intelligence could drive iPhone upgrades were...
Sad Siri Feature

Kuo: Cook Should Personally Address Siri Apple Intelligence Failure

Thursday March 13, 2025 4:02 pm PDT by
Apple made a major misstep with the way that it handled the delay of Apple Intelligence features for Siri, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today. Announcing the delay through a press statement was a bad decision, and Apple should instead have gone through official channels. Kuo referenced the well-known "Antennagate" PR crisis when the iPhone 4 launched in 2010, and the way that then Apple...

Top Rated Comments

ohbrilliance Avatar
51 months ago
Am I the only one who really likes the iPad mini form factor exactly as it is?
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Oohara Avatar
51 months ago
An iPad Mini with Pro form factor and mini-LED display is top of my device wish list. I adore my iPhone 12 Pro Max but I still find it too small for many situations, whereas my iPad Pro 12.9 is often too big. An iPad Mini Pro would become my go-to device for so many situations, and I could then happily move to a cheaper and more pocket friendly phone, while keeping my iPad Pro for mobile yet heavy lifting tasks.

Touch ID in the power button like on the new Airs would be icing on the cake.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Greenmeenie Avatar
51 months ago
I dunno about this rumor. I know the iPad mini gets no love and sometimes is not updated for 2-4 yrs...and now with rumors of an 8” foldable iPhone coming in 2023...perhaps will be discontinued altogether.... BUT I still would love to see an iPad mini with the flat edged design of the iPad Pros. As an artist who uses a larger iPad Pro, I would love to have an ipad mini that I could use my Apple pencil 2 on when I want to travel light.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
profets Avatar
51 months ago
Oh man do I ever hope for an Air 4 style mini (I’d love Face ID but lets be real, it won’t happen if the Air never received it).
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jimmy_uk Avatar
51 months ago
Gotta milk the form factor and parts for another year, like the SE 2020. Helps keep costs down and/or encourages customers to upgrade to Pro versions if they want new and shiney designs.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Greenmeenie Avatar
51 months ago

Oh man do I ever hope for an Air 4 style mini (I’d love Face ID but lets be real, it won’t happen if the Air never received it).
Yeah, i am hoping for an iPad mini with the flat edged design of the air & pros too. Face ID would be great, but like you wrote, if the Air didn’t get it, i doubt the iPad mini will. But i think an iPad mini with the same flat edged design & touch ID built into the power button on the side could work well. And they could offer the iPad mini in multiple colors like the Air as well. As someone who already owns a larger iPad Pro...I would buy one of these iPad minis in a hearbeat. I am an artist, and would love to be able to use my Apple pencil 2 on the ipad mini for when i want to travel light.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)