Apple just refreshed its iPad mini, giving it the most anticipated upgrade since the very first generation — an OLED screen.
Sure, the iPad mini 2026 is not quite perfect by Apple standards, as it lacks the smooth 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate that even much cheaper products have, and Cupertino also sticks with Touch ID, an inconvenience rather than a feature. However, for those who want a compact tablet, the iPad mini is still probably the best choice considering the integration with the popular Apple ecosystem.
I have to admit: just as I prefer compact phones, I have a soft spot for the smaller tablet form factor. The iPad mini fits in my jacket pocket (and rear jeans pocket), and it's light and much more comfortable to hold than an 11-inch tablet. Sure, it won't replace my Macbook Air, but I don't think any tablet is good enough for that task.
However, there was one thing on my wishlist that I really hoped Apple would do with the iPad mini, and it's neither about the high refresh rate, nor about the Touch ID fingerprint.
Highest on my wishlist for the iPad mini was actually MagSafe!
"MagSafe on a tablet?," I can almost hear your surprise in the comments.
What are the use cases?
Image by PhoneArena
Yes! And I think it makes a lot of sense in many ways.
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I drive an older car and use my iPhone 18 Pro placed conveniently on a MagSafe stand for navigation, but I would much prefer the convenience of a larger screen. Suddenly, my 2006 Honda Civic, fondly referred to as the "spaceship" would actually live up to its futuristic name.
And since an iPad spends most of its life lying on a shelf, it would just make so much sense if you could place it on a wireless charging mat to ensure it's always charged up and ready to go. Without worrying about cables.
There was something else I was thinking too: imagine if Apple enabled the incredibly cool StandBy feature from the iPhone Duo on the iPad mini!
With MagSafe and an iPad version of StandBy, the mini could become a beautiful little smart display whenever you're not using it. It could show your favorite photos, the time, upcoming calendar appointments or other useful information at a glance. Unfortunately, StandBy is not available on iPads at the moment.
A HomeView killer?
Image by Apple
Remember that brand new category of a device Apple just unveiled last week, the Apple HomeView?
That cute 7-inch smart display for your kitchen could have been easily replaced by a way more versatile iPad mini. Just imagine how much these two products are overlapping, if only you had the convenience of quickly attaching and detaching the iPad mini to MagSafe stands.
Naturally, it makes more sense for Apple to sell you two devices, instead of tweaking the iPad mini to fit that second role.
A vision too good for Apple's bottom line
Image by Apple
I realize this wish of mine was never backed up by substantial rumors or leaks, so it was never a real possibility. But in a world where Apple was not so afraid to cannibalize its more expensive products, we could have had a truly incredible mini iPad.
One of the best things about MagSafe on the iPhone is how easily it lets you attach chargers, stands and other accessories. Imagine having that same flexibility on the iPad mini, with magnetic desk stands, kitchen mounts and bedside docks.
Apple wouldn't even have to invent anything new: it could bring a familiar iPhone convenience to a device with the right size for that.
And if you ask me for even more fantastical wishes, well, I can definitely imagine an iPad with a microSD card slot, a feature that Apple deemed too dangerous to its bottom line, despite its convenience. Storage is expensive these days, and users are definitely not the ones benefitting from that. I understand the business logic, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
But back to my main point: MagSafe might not make sense on Apple's larger iPads — I'm not sure those magnets would be strong enough to hold an 11, or a 13-incher. It would have added real value to the iPad mini, though.
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Victor, a seasoned mobile technology expert, has spent over a decade at PhoneArena, exploring the depths of mobile photography and reviewing hundreds of smartphones across Android and iOS ecosystems. His passion for technology, coupled with his extensive knowledge of smartphone cameras and battery life, has positioned him as a leading voice in the mobile tech industry.
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