iPad Mini 8 With These 10 New Features Expected Today or Tomorrow

Apple is rumored to be set to reveal an iPad mini 8 with a new OLED display this week, with an invitation-only event in Los Angeles scheduled for Wednesday, October 28. Among the devices expected to be showcased are MacBook Pro models with touch-enabled OLED displays, a 14-inch MacBook Pro featuring an M6 chip, and an iMac with an M6 chip. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the iPad mini could debut today or no later than tomorrow at the event.

Ten anticipated features and improvements for the upcoming iPad mini 8 include Apple's new A20 Pro chip, built with TSMC's advanced 2nm process. This chip promises up to 1.5 times faster CPU performance and up to 2.5 times faster GPU performance compared to the A17 Pro chip currently found in the iPad mini. The A20 Pro also features a dual 16-core Neural Engine, resulting in a total of 32 cores.

The next iPad mini will boast 12GB of RAM, an upgrade from the current 8GB, enabling customization of Siri's voice expressiveness.

A slightly larger OLED display is expected to offer superior image quality with richer colors and a higher contrast ratio, featuring true blacks. The display may incorporate both 60Hz and 120Hz (ProMotion) refresh rates, though the final choice remains uncertain. Design enhancements include thinner bezels around the display compared to the current model. An additional feature is the placement of the landscape front camera in the right bezel, as opposed to the top bezel in the current version.

Apple is reportedly developing a custom-designed N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support, as well as a custom-designed C1X or C2 modem for cellular configurations. A redesigned speaker system without any speaker holes and potentially an iPhone earpiece-like speaker in the top bezel is also under consideration. Another notable upgrade is the introduction of IP-rated water resistance for the first time.

With the current iPad mini priced at $599 following a $100 price increase in June due to soaring RAM and storage chip prices, the OLED display-equipped next model may command an even higher price.