When to Expect the Next iPad Mini and Low-End iPad Models to Launch

The only thing keeping the Mini from cannibalizing the core iPad line is the price point. Plus they tend to let this thing get stale for years at a time.

The difference between the normal iPad and iPad Mini is baffling to me. Why is the smallest iPad a premium step over the base model?

Smaller market, fully laminated AR-coated display, P3 color, higher PPI, faster SoC, Pencil 2 compatibility, True Tone flash, thinner and lighter. The mini is mid-market, not entry-level. Its smaller size is a feature, not a cost reduction measure.

I really hope for the education market they keep the headphone jack if they drop the 9th gen.

There is zero -- and I mean zero -- good reason to drop the headphone jack off iPads.

If they do that, it's pure greed at the expense of useful and functional consumer experience.

With Tim Cook still in charge, I expect they will axe it
He doesn't care at all about anything besides more optimization and stock prices

This is what we get for having "the Ops Guy" in charge.
It'd be fascinating to see what Steve would say of his choice, a decade plus on.

As someone who has watched a few cancer battles first hand (all losing affairs) and seeing how it impacts the people and their priorities and judgements in the moment .... I forgive Steve 100% for the Tim choice. Larger things loomed and if one hasn't experienced that, it's hard to understand how unimportant anything not related to day to day health and situation can become.

We no longer have a product driven company, which I have to think Steve would loathe.

If the next iPad mini will get little more than a processor upgrade, I wonder what the holdup is.

When the iPad Mini 6 came out in 2021, it was essentially a smaller version of the 4th gen iPad Air (the last model before the iPad Air got the M1 chip). In fact, it's chip was a little faster than the iPad Air 4. It had many of the same features as the Air, including Apple Pencil 2 support and a very similar form factor (just smaller). It seemed like Apple was positioning the iPad Mini as a smaller version of the iPad Air, but equally capable (for the most part).

That changed in 2022 when the iPad Air got the M1 chip and the Mini did not. Then, Apple let both models whither for a few years.

Now, it seems the Air will get the M2 chip. Will the Mini even get an M-series chip when it comes out in late 2024/early 2025? Or does Apple no longer want to position it as a smaller version of the iPad Air, instead relegating it to a similar status as the budget iPad?

I think the same way.

I was never interested in the mini form factor but tried one with the current gen and haven't looked back. In fact it made me sell my 12.9" iPad Pro - something I never really used but the mini I used all the time.

For me, the mini is the only iPad im interested in now and would happily upgrade when the opportunity presents itself but NOT if its such a boring update as is rumoured here.

You cant leave something for 3 years and then have a minor processor upgrade.

I dont understand why the mini wont get the M series chips if the air and pros have them already - I do wish the mini had stage manager at least so it could be used with external monitor support.

So, im hoping after 3 years theres more than just a modest spec bump. Ive always seen the mini as the 'pro or air mini' and not the base iPad mini.

Wireless charging for mini please.

I can wait. My mini 6 is still going strong.

At last (iPad mini 7), which is now 1 of about 3 releases away from the Mini 9 or 10 which will be my next one. Until then, iPad Mini 6 should keep right on rolling... just like Mini 2 lasted for many generations before the hop to 6. Since these things have LONG use legs... without that mysterious "long in tooth" effect that pushes for much faster iPhone updates... it's easy to wait several generations without feeling "left behind."

Bring on this 7 and then an 8 in 2 or 3 years and then "my" 9 or 10 in a few more... UNLESS... Apple surprises with perhaps a Mini PRO model with iPhone MAX cameras, etc, and then I probably buy that one sooner than this plan. With VOIP app and buds, my cellular Mini doubles as my Phone too and does both jobs well in ONE package at lower hardware cost, less frequent upgrade cost and much lower 5G service cost. So I'd be very quick to jump on most of the distinguishing iPhone hardware advantages built into a Mini Pro version... even at current iPad Pro pricing.

To those ready for a new Mini, enjoy your purchase. These are great iPads... IMO, the ideal "goldilocks" for a tablet.