Can the iPad mini (8th Gen) keep compact tablets afloat during this most turbulent time for the entire industry (as well as the global smartphone market)? You may have thought so when you first heard about the new 8.4 or 8.5-incher's key display upgrade over its 2024 predecessor, but the latest rumor relayed by the almost always reliable Mark Gurman with Bloomberg is likely to make you greatly revise your expectations here.
The iPad mini (2026) could start at the same price as the iPad Air 13 (2026)
How would something like that ever work or make sense? It's pretty simple (and deeply unfortunate): the consumer tech landscape is in a totally different position right now than it was just seven months ago, so while the 13-inch iPad Air (M4) was originally priced at $799 and up, its retail cost has recently jumped to $949 in an entry-level configuration.
You probably should have bought the M4 iPad Air when it was released. | Image by Apple
The rising industry-wide component costs of the last year or so made a price increase for the new iPad mini compared to the "old" iPad mini seem just about guaranteed, but essentially everyone's expectation was that the number would go up from $599 to $699.
Gurman, however, claims he's heard from presumably very reliable inside sources that the OLED iPad mini will be "considerably more expensive" than the last of its LCD forerunners. That definitely sounds like a bigger hike than $100, and although it's far from etched in stone, the Bloomberg writer's (very educated) guess currently stands "closer to $799."
Will the OLED iPad mini justify its price with any game-changing upgrades?
Yes and no. On one hand, it's all but confirmed that the eight-generation iPad mini will adopt OLED screen technology, thus holding (at least in theory) an important advantage over not only the 2024-released 8.3-incher but this year's 11 and 13-inch iPad Airs as well.
The new iPad mini display will reportedly get a (single) big upgrade. | Image by PhoneArena
On the other hand, the fancy new OLED panel is widely expected to retain the outdated 60Hz refresh rate capabilities of its LCD predecessor, which would give the iPad mini (2026) a major (theoretical) disadvantage in both gaming and video playing over many of the best Android tablets available right now (some of which are priced significantly lower than $799).
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Of course, the upgrades won't stop there, but although undeniably fast, I'm not sure an Apple A20 Pro chipset shared with the iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo will be enough to make a $150 or $200 price hike feel acceptable, and the same definitely goes for subtler expected changes like a relocated front-facing camera and "revamped" speaker system.
That price tag is even worse than it looks at first glance
... if you compare it to how much Apple originally charged for the iPad mini (7th Gen). That's right, the 2024 release was initially priced at $499 in a Wi-Fi-only 128GB storage variant before jumping to $599 a few months ago, so if it does end up costing $799 and up, its sequel will be an insane $300 more expensive at launch.
How much would you be willing to pay for a new OLED iPad mini?
9 Votes
As usual, Apple could greatly benefit from the minimal competition in the high-end compact tablet field, especially in markets like the US, where you can't buy a Huawei MatePad Mini or a Xiaomi Pad Mini.
Cash-strapped iPad buyers will need to wait until 2027
Once again, the next "regular" iPad is tipped for an early 2027 release after being initially expected out by the end of this year. Likely powered by the same A19 processor as the iPhone 17 and 17e, the 12th Gen iPad is considered "crucial" for Apple after all the recent family-wide price hikes and the introduction of Amazon's latest and greatest Android-based slates (with full Google Play support).
The base A16-powered iPad is probably not getting a sequel this year. | Image by PhoneArena
But despite all that, the new entry-level iPad is unlikely to see daylight alongside the first-ever OLED iPad mini this month. There are obviously also no words on pricing just yet, but I for one am not particularly optimistic after the 11-inch iPad (2025) with Apple A16 Bionic power jumped from $349 to $449 this summer.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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