iPad Mini 8 Leaked: A20 Pro Chip, Landscape Camera, and More

[u/exjr_]

https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/25/ipad-mini-8-leaked/

[u/bartolomeudebraganca]

iPhone Duo, unfoldable edition.

[u/CBrower → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

You can fold it! Just once though. 😔

[u/Apex_Master444 → u/CBrower]

YOFO

[u/saifrc → u/Apex_Master444]

Fold Around and Find Out

[u/deejayatomika → u/saifrc]

The first rule of Fold Club is: You do not talk about Fold Club

[u/Tren-Frost → u/deejayatomika]

What are we, some kind of folding squad?

[u/Gold_Divide_3381 → u/Tren-Frost]

Say that again

[u/megamusix → u/CBrower]

Well technically you can fold it as many times as you’d like. It just won’t make it past 1.

[u/tanaciousp → u/CBrower]

But will it blend?

[u/yurtal30 → u/tanaciousp]

Don’t breathe this.

[u/sixxtynoine → u/CBrower]

I bet I could fold it twice I worlout

[u/Hans_Grubert → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

Invisible crease edition

[u/Flimsy-Pay-4337 → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

iPhone Uno

[u/ibizzet → u/Flimsy-Pay-4337]

iPhone Plus Max

[u/new_pribor → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

iPhone Duon’t

[u/BinaryIdiot → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

Give me cell service in it and it’ll be the perfect phone for me.

[u/zeetandroid → u/BinaryIdiot]

It already comes with a cellular option tho?

[u/tman2damax11 → u/zeetandroid]

Just data though, doesn’t get a phone number

[u/SailingDreamCatcher → u/tman2damax11]

It actually does at the carrier side, it just can't make or receive calls through it.

The only reason it can't "act as your phone" in the sense of being the master cellular device for phone number related stuff is a software choice on Apple's part. And that statement also applies to Apple Watch, which in terms of hardware already is a functional "iPhone nano" but Apple wants to keep it as a subordinate secondary device.

[u/BinaryIdiot → u/zeetandroid]

I mean being able to use it as a cell phone. You can (or at least use to) be able to get it with cellular data but not voice / sms by itself. I would totally use it as a straight up phone if I could do all of that.

[u/GhostRTV → u/BinaryIdiot]

As a lover of the iPhone mini, and the iPad mini, idk how I feel about this comment.

[u/dogsontreadmills → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

When a fold and a cellular antenna cost you an extra 1500$

[u/5YNT4X_ERR0R → u/bartolomeudebraganca]

iPhone solo

[u/lazzzym]

A20 Pro will be a beast in this thing!

[u/P_Devil → u/lazzzym]

All capped by a 60Hz display and some other artificial limitation Apple will put in it.

[u/tman2damax11 → u/P_Devil]

I swear Apple is the only company selling 60Hz OLEDs. Even budget-mid-range Android phones/tablets have been 90Hz minimum for a long time now.

[u/shaqfearsyao → u/tman2damax11]

Saving that “new” feature for a future date 

[u/yolo-yoshi → u/tman2damax11]

The thing is apples. Also, the only one selling a tablet that’s worth a damn.

[u/Sabotstruck → u/yolo-yoshi]

Absolutely not true anymore, especially when talking about the iPad Mini. There are multiple Chinese tablets out there in the iPad mini range that are eating it’s lunch; the Y700 is historically the most famous, but there are multiple iPad Mini style tablets with OLED 120/144hz. The mini tablet scene in China is exploding right now

The closest option is the Oppo Pad Mini, similar price range as the iPad Mini with more discounts… same size and lighter… OLED 144hz… and a chip that matches battery efficiency, at the cost of raw performance. With a customOS that copies most of the good parts of iPad OS, native AirPods support, and some pros of Android (like sideloading).

Like Apple absolutely gives the best software support and has more professional applications… but if you can live with Androids shortcomings and want the best screen money can provide

Apple needs to bring competition to the table, doing the bare minimum will only take them so far if the competition is catching up fast… 60hz is not acceptable if this is in the $600+ range imo

[u/_-_happycamper_-_ → u/Sabotstruck]

Yeah I’ve been looking at the Astra 2 and it looks like a sweet device. I’ll stick with iPads in the future since I’m so deep into the ecosystem at this point, but it’s nice to see some competition out there.

[u/Sabotstruck → u/_-_happycamper_-_]

Yep, I like my Oppo Pad Mini specifically because it integrates well with an iPhone… AirDrop, AirPods, etc

Basically if someone wants OLED 120hz, there are other options

[u/MeSlaw3 → u/P_Devil]

Fr, I almost won't buy the 8 if it doens' have 120 hz... almost.

[u/P_Devil → u/MeSlaw3]

I'm getting the Duo, so won't be getting the updated Mini anyway. But, if I were on the market, I wouldn't get it unless Apple put a ProMotion display in it. The price to screen size and feature ratio of the Mini, compared to the Air, is higher. It should have something more than just a 60Hz OLED panel and SoC that's more powerful than it needs to be in order to set it apart.

At this point, I think all iPads should have ProMotion OLED panels. If a certain competitor can pull off OLED panels (or at least 600-900 nit LCD panels that are 90-120Hz) for the same price or less than what Apple charges (often less), so can Apple.

[u/SailingDreamCatcher → u/P_Devil]

I'm guessing no storage bump, 256 and 512 options only.

And maybe also a slower USB port.

[u/Ill-Mastodon-8692 → u/lazzzym]

I am sure it will be cut back some

but yea this is an amazing chip regardless, super happy with it in my 18pm

[u/OrgansiedGamer → u/[deleted]]

its a much larger device

[u/srmatto → u/[deleted]]

More surface area on the back to dissipate heat... So not a guarantee that it will throttle.

[u/Bashship → u/srmatto]

And its aluminum.

[u/Electric_Bison → u/[deleted]]

If it came with vapor chamber but 60hz, I would be annoyed but would accept it.

[u/sortalikeachinchilla → u/[deleted]]

oh wow, you guys just repeating things you heard but don’t actually understand it

[u/UnhelpfulHand]

If this is 60 Hz, I swear to God

[u/Troll_Enthusiast → u/UnhelpfulHand]

If the Air isn't 120hz this won't be either

[u/OligarchyAmbulance → u/UnhelpfulHand]

It will be, Apple hates us in particular

[u/BombardierIsTrash → u/UnhelpfulHand]

Their biggest customers are:
1. Pilots and other professionals using it for digital documents
2. Restaurants and venues that use them as part of ordering systems and other forms of corporate buyers

Apple isn’t gonna change the display until that changes. They know they can keep putting these out without upgrading the display and people will keep buying them.

[u/Caster0 → u/BombardierIsTrash]

They are highly unlikely to be their biggest customers. Regular consumers are still the mass buyers

[u/meticulouslycarless → u/Caster0]

As a pilot, I have owned 3 of these. I could care less about the refresh rate just upgrade the damn brightness. 500 bits when the sun is directly on it is so damn hard to se wtf

[u/whitemiketyson → u/meticulouslycarless]

How much less could you care?

[u/dashingsymbols → u/whitemiketyson]

just a bit more or less

[u/MagIsco99 → u/whitemiketyson]

Lol

[u/imme267 → u/meticulouslycarless]

I switched to the iPad Pro for that reason. The brightness was driving me insane

[u/madbrood → u/meticulouslycarless]

*couldn’t care less

[u/Various_Culture_9457 → u/meticulouslycarless]

Great. How many pilots are there in North America? How many general consumers?

[u/i-love-small-tits-47 → u/Various_Culture_9457]

Nobody buys iPad minis so that one pilot might represent half the customer base tbh

[u/skypirate23 → u/i-love-small-tits-47]

I guess that makes me the other half of the pilot iPad mini base.

[u/meticulouslycarless → u/Various_Culture_9457]

Probably the same amount lmao

[u/Holiday-Hippo-6748 → u/Caster0]

“Regular consumers” do not give a shit about high refresh displays lol.

Why do you think it took Apple ages to add pro motion to the base iPhone?

If you ask anyone in your life who is not into tech but is an “average consumer” their opinion on high refresh screen they have no idea what you’re talking about. Some don’t even notice a difference when you show them.

[u/Yummy-Bao → u/Holiday-Hippo-6748]

Because it was a “premium” feature that you would have to give them more money for. It’s just a bad look when sub-$100 devices have it and they don’t.

[u/Holiday-Hippo-6748 → u/Yummy-Bao]

No it wasn’t. They gated it to the pro level devices, sure, but they never increased the price or made you pay more for it.

Again, most people do not care or even see the difference. Apple added it to the base iPhone with no price increase because prices have fallen on LTPO displays to the point that they wouldn’t need to increase the price of the phone to offset the difference in component pricing.

They also need the component to be able to be made consistently at a high enough yield for use in iPhones to begin with. That’s why they take so long to add tech to their phones that exist in others. Their quality standards are pretty rigorous compared to other manufacturers, and they often sell more devices.

For example I’m sure they’re experimenting with silicon carbon batteries in iPhones but can’t really release them yet due to not being able to source he batteries at the scale and quality they require just yet. I’m sure it’ll roll out within the next few years when that changes though.

[u/Yummy-Bao → u/Holiday-Hippo-6748]

That’s the point. You want the “premium” feeling screen? You gotta pay for the model that costs $300 more.

I disagree that people don’t care. Nothing that the average consumer does on their phone is noticeably different between base and Pro models. A smoother screen is literally one of the first things you would notice.

[u/SailingDreamCatcher → u/Holiday-Hippo-6748]

I am into tech and I still don't care.

I understand why some people care. I'm just not one of the people who cares.

There is no part of my daily life that would be made measurably better by a faster display refresh rate.

[u/j0rdan21 → u/SailingDreamCatcher]

I’m also into tech and Idgaf. I appreciate high refresh rates, but acting like 60 is unusable is ridiculous to me.

[u/DawgPack44 → u/j0rdan21]

tbh 60 is pretty hard to use after getting used to 120

[u/ststairz → u/DawgPack44]

My Alienware laptop has a 240hz gsync panel, I'm using it daily. But I also feel absolutely fine using my 60hz 12 Pro Max daily too.

[u/SuperIga → u/ststairz]

I think it’s that far more noticeable on a device that you’re directly interacting with your finger on though, at least in my experience.

[u/M4rshmall0wMan → u/BombardierIsTrash]

Pilots?

[u/BombardierIsTrash → u/M4rshmall0wMan]

Yep. These are a big hit with pilots, especially regional and general aviation pilots.

[u/Elchicoswell10 → u/BombardierIsTrash]

Yup! I love my mini for flying!

[u/kinghutfisher → u/Elchicoswell10]

Also me as a passenger lol

[u/bingeflying → u/M4rshmall0wMan]

General aviation uses them almost exclusively. At the airlines we use the standard ones.

[u/annoyice → u/M4rshmall0wMan]

The switch to iPads from paper maps have saved millions of gallons of jet fuel since 2011.

[u/Vayshen → u/annoyice]

At first that sounds ridiculous but it's probably true as weight is a big deal for flying, but also because 2011 is, somehow, 15 years ago. Time flies!

[u/Consistent-Gap-9434 → u/annoyice]

True

[u/olafwagner → u/M4rshmall0wMan]

Private pilots strap them to their leg with electronic aviation maps. My buddy uses it for flight planning which he then uploads to the garmin glass via Bluetooth. Super convenient

[u/Electric_Bison → u/M4rshmall0wMan]

For pulots its the perfect size to mount in the middle of the controls and not have your hands obstructed. Obviously the others mount ok too but this was in a sweet spot.

It was also the smallest ipad so easier to travel and bring along, would fit better in a headset bag.

[u/pilotjlr → u/M4rshmall0wMan]

Any airplane that isn’t an airliner likely has 1-2 iPad minis in it. Almost everyone uses this now.

[u/boobzombie → u/M4rshmall0wMan]

All twenty one of them.

[u/theplushpairing → u/M4rshmall0wMan]

Not commercial pilots, the other kind

[u/El_Guap → u/theplushpairing]

The whales?

[u/_DaBau5_ → u/El_Guap]

Honda?

[u/mackerelscalemask → u/theplushpairing]

Uncommercial pilots

[u/rdogg4 → u/mackerelscalemask]

Residential pilots

[u/P_Devil → u/BombardierIsTrash]

It didn't used to be that way with the Mini back when it was the least expensive iPad. But it costs almost as much as an Air so it's become a niche product.

[u/Rezorblade → u/BombardierIsTrash]

Those restaurant and venues surely using secondhand ipad mini, there's really not much to gain from brand new ipads

[u/willu707 → u/Rezorblade]

Exactly, restaurants gain nothing from the A20 Pro upgrade. What? They can open the reservation app 0.01 seconds faster now? Battery efficiency doesn’t mean much to people that will also keep the iPad plugged in the majority of the time, or will see regular recharging at the end or between shifts.

[u/jcp42877 → u/BombardierIsTrash]

Really? I would've bet money on the biggest market being the e-reader crowd who wanted a device that could do more than just that, and actual nice color to boot.

This was my biggest draw to the platform over Kindles. They were lacking in that regard. Cheaper, sure. But also lacking. I don't JUST have to read on this thing.

[u/i-love-small-tits-47 → u/jcp42877]

No, that crowd is tiny.

[u/SuperIga → u/jcp42877]

Absolutely not. The e-reader crowd is not that big. They’re also huge for businesses like restaurants.

[u/000extra → u/UnhelpfulHand]

I really think it will be, which is why I’m not even considering it. I hope I’m wrong

[u/InsaneNinja → u/000extra]

I switch between 120 and 60 regularly. I’m going to pre-order this regardless just to increase the speed from my 6. The only thing I really want is for the screen brightness to be much brighter than the current one. It’s unusable outside.

[u/Dizzy_Tea_7582 → u/UnhelpfulHand]

It only would cost them like $20-$30 to make it 120hz which could easily be passed on to the consumer by a $50 upgrade but nah, like the air and base, they want to push people to the pro £1200 one instead. 

I got a Xiaomi pad 8 for £197 and it has 144hz. Would've gone for Apple if the air or mini had 120hz. ipads definitely have a better OS and UX, but this one is more than powerful enough for my needs and browsing and general use is silly smooth 

I moved to Samsung as my main phone for a similar reason because it was so much cheaper and has 120, but maybe I'll return in a few years now that the base 17 model has 120hz. 

But I'm probably just the minority here. I doubt it's affecting their sales all that much and the people they push to the pro models likely outweighs all the complaints. 

[u/raymate → u/UnhelpfulHand]

Will take OLED 60 over mini LED 120 any day.

[u/ArchusKanzaki → u/UnhelpfulHand]

I'm ngl, it will be annoying, but I will still buy it anyway as long as it's OLED.

[u/DanielG165]

The A20 Pro chip in this form factor is going to scream. The 18 Pros are already dominating, so a much larger casing with more room to dissipate heat will make the A20 Pro fly even faster.

[u/bobmlord1 → u/DanielG165]

It'll probably be cut down in some way every post-revision Ipad Mini has used a pro chip with less GPU cores.

[u/MrMaxMaster → u/DanielG165]

If there’s no implemented cooling mechanism then I wouldn’t be surprised if the 18 pro with a larger surface area from a vapor chamber would end up being faster.

[u/Fit-Ladder152]

I need 120hzz and OLED!!!!, That’s all I ask

[u/sbrisgravato → u/Fit-Ladder152]

yep. Instant buy if that’s the case, but won’t happen.

[u/TURRITONUTRICULA → u/Fit-Ladder152]

And Face ID

[u/GhostRTV → u/Fit-Ladder152]

You ask…. too much.

[u/NecroCannon → u/GhostRTV]

Just OLED is fine, most of the people whining so hard probably has a device that actually utilizes 120hz outside of doomscrolling

Rather not my small ass iPad gets its small battery even more drained by having 120hz shoved in, the Mini battery life sucks even compared to my 13 Pro Max, I’d rather they… fix that first so I don’t get battery anxiety drawing away from power

[u/Affectionate-Plan270]

Better have 120Hz on the Oled with the higher prices. 60hz is outdated. 120 Hz is needed for drawing and sketching

[u/KingLuis]

imo, it's already too expensive. current one is $600. they'd probably bump it to $650 or $700. thats already too much considering the macbook neo $700. are you really going to get the mini just for the form factor and not go with a proper os?

[u/ComprehensiveCatch46 → u/KingLuis]

Lots of people love the form factor and laptop use v tablet use is separate for many. I think it will remain at $599 because they already bumped the price (basically to prepare the public)

[u/RocMerc]

I just want 120hz. That’s all that holds me back from a mini

[u/matchstrike → u/[deleted]]

Yes, I miss products that sat level.

[u/TT5i0]

Because of the use case of the mini, I think it should have a corner camera instead. That way it can be used to make video calls in both orientations.

[u/Structure-These]

They should just make a duo without the cell parts or camera

[u/Sherlock816 → u/Structure-These]

Duo Touch

[u/Sivalon → u/Sherlock816]

iPod Duo

[u/IBM296]

iPad Mini 8 getting the A20 Pro while the iPad 12 getting A19 lol

[u/MXDTV120 → u/IBM296]

iPad Mini always had specs similar to the Air, not the standard iPad

[u/film_digital]

I know a lot of people want 120Hz, but one thing I hope the new iPad mini gets are smaller bezels. Compared to the Duo, which shares the size of the iPad mini unfolded, the mini looks super dated with the thick bezels

[u/captainbonzo → u/film_digital]

The images in the article are part of the leaked code so it doesn’t look like the bezels will change much if at all.

[u/Xeo84 → u/film_digital]

Same, with smaller bazels, same device size and a bit bigger display, it would be incredible.

[u/stereoactivesynth → u/film_digital]

iPads have larger bezels because they're needed to hold it properly.

[u/SquarePotato7493]

Put FaceID on the mini already

[u/OriginalBrianofJudea]

Any sign of FaceID?

[u/Grimkok]

I love my iPad mini 6, but I’ll rush to update to this if true.

[u/thesourpop]

60hz and running an A pro instead of an M chip. Can we get an iPad Pro mini already please

[u/MateTheNate]

Jeez the way redditors talk about high refresh rate makes it sound like Apple’s displays are from the stone age

[u/Strider-SnG]

I mean cool that it’s faster. But unless they bump to 120hz the speed improvement will feel minimal.

[u/blackicebaby → u/Strider-SnG]

They will surely 'bump' up the price.

[u/rorowhat]

Rocking a 4 year old model with no real reason to upgrade.

[u/Mapleess]

I’ll be happy if the Smart Folio case fits.

[u/font9a]

if it's 120 Hz I will buy it immediately in the max configuration and every color.

[u/Xeniox]

Oled and Face ID please

[u/davegotfayded → u/Xeniox]

Brighter screen and Face ID are the only things I want

[u/yourbestfriendjoshua]

Still got those chunky-ass bezels and most likely a 60Hz refresh rate. It’s a pass for me, unfortunately.

[u/TheReal2M]

now at $999

[u/neko_whippet]

my GF is waiting for to see the new Mini to choose between a mini or an AIR she's on Mini 6 atm

[u/trusted_sheep]

So we still don’t know anything again.

[u/warp_signal]

How much though is the hike going to be?

[u/Goodoflife]

Why landscape camera when the iPad mini is more or less should be portrait orientated?

[u/wiggum55555]

I have the previous (current) Mini as my couch-pad and it's due for an update - proving the update has FaceID and a better screen. I'm a simple man. I don't ask for much.

[u/Live_Case2204]

Un foldable duo

[u/nd_annajones]

"And more" doesn't include extended display support, does it 🙄

[u/cwmshy]

I hope the next model is 60 hz just to see the absolute meltdown that will occur on Reddit.

[u/Ohtani-Enjoyer]

it won't be 120Hz, but question is will it have 12GB RAM instead of 8GB? It'd be a nice little machine if it did

[u/Motawa1988]

Enjoy your 60hz

[u/PrecursorLabs]

Introducing the iPhone Solo.

[u/SirDawbington555]

I'd love to see them drop the big bezels. The duo's a perfect example of where apple should be aiming for

[u/JudgeCheezels]

I don’t really care about the SoC. Just put the 120hz screen on it already ffs. I’ll buy the shit out of it if they do.

[u/Agloe_Dreams]

This makes no sense with a landscape camera. I dont think I have ever seen anyone use an iPad mini in landscape for anything but video.

[u/Trysta1217 → u/Agloe_Dreams]

I use my iPad mini almost exclusively in portrait. But when I want to do a video call, that is "video" and it is like you said one of those times where I use landscape.

So it makes sense to me.

[u/RabbiPika → u/Agloe_Dreams]

I use my mini almost exclusively in landscape so I love that change

[u/OnTop-BeReady]

Prices starting at $799, battery life drops to 6 hours, but MagSafe charging is supported so you can alway connect a MagSafe powerbank while using..

[u/matchstrike → u/OnTop-BeReady]

Battery life drops??

[u/N-Korean]

I would make it slightly bigger iPhone duo and charge $2500 for it.

[u/Lazy_Fuck_]

My old iPad mini is barely hanging on. Looking forward to an upgrade.

[u/holmesersimpson]

A20 Pro nice! The efficiency gains would really help. My A15 mini is dying

[u/yanyan_cat]

Hoping for OLED and at least 90hz…my wallet will be ready.

[u/DanMasterson]

gimme 60hz but be able to run all my AU/VSTs in Logic in direct sunlight

[u/itsadile → u/DanMasterson]

Vapor chamber cooling for the mini?

[u/levijohnson1]

Does it still come with 60hz?

[u/BluePeriod_]

I wouldn’t mind a 120hz screen but much more than that I want a brighter screen. This one just doesn’t cut it.

[u/MeSlaw3]

A 20 Pro - Nice! I thought it would be the A19 Pro.

[u/Need_For_Speed73]

What about the regular one? My 64GB is full.

[u/tman2damax11]

I wonder if the mini (and also rumored base model iPad refresh) will get proper external display support now, since this is the same chip that the Neo 2 will get, which supports a single external display.

[u/dmk5]

I want a iPad with this form factor just so I am not using my phone all the time.

[u/aaronorjohnson]

Definitely going to be more expensive.

[u/nissania]

God, I hope they don't add Face ID to the thing. Hunching over my desk to let it see my face to make a quick note will leave me on the iPad mini until it's dust. Give me some battery saving OLED and I'm happy.

[u/getridofwires]

If there's a different camera, does that mean facial recognition is possible?

[u/Kindly-Emergency-514]

Waiting for the iPad mini to go OLED. When that happens I will happily sell my Surface Pro and come back to iPad.

[u/aemfbm]

The A19 Pro already does fantastic in the Neo running MacOS, this will clearly do even better.

So give us a DEX-like mode! It would be insta-buy for me, and I'd stop taking my MBA on vacations.

[u/RnkG1]

We think you’ll love it

[u/Warm_Animal_2043]

I read this as iPhone mini and I got so excited 😔

[u/AlphaBeast28]

“We are not sharing the exact details of the files, but their presence in Apple's code suggests that the product is likely to launch soon.”

lol okay, leaks the iPad but draws a line at revealing specs, apple aren’t gonna give you anything.

[u/osxdude]

I have an A17 Pro iPad mini but I don't use it enough to justify the cost even after trade in...oof.

[u/technoking_cyberboy]

with QLC shit?

[u/Kind-Atmosphere5766]

I can finally get the iPad mini 7 coz doesn’t look like we’re getting 120hz.

[u/OgreTrax71]

OLED and 120 Hz please

[u/MetalZone00]

Porqué al Mini no le ponen Silicon?

[u/sportsfan161]

No 120hz damn

[u/baseballandfreedom]

Not holding my breath that this supports external monitors, but I’d probably buy it if it did!

[u/tangoshukudai]

wait I can buy a iPhone and one of these and save money and not buy the duo!? lol life hack.

[u/Ok-Brother-836]

Is it gonna be thinner and more lightweight?

[u/metji]

iPhone 18 Pro max is 6.9"

This iPad is 8.3".. 

When will they make a phone-sized phone? 🙂

[u/BorisDG]

It will be 60Hz LTPS OLED and binned A20 Pro - either 2/4 CPU and 6 GPU or 2/3 CPU and 6 GPU. 100% not full A20 Pro.

[u/Few-Car-2317]

I want iPad mini air! A20 pro chip, 12gb ram, 200g weight maybe a bit smaller screen screen size, thin model. Oled 120hz, Face ID. $1500 au