[Now official] iPad mini 8 rumors: a 2nm A20 Pro chip, OLED display, landscape front camera and IP water resistance, expected to launch in October

Update: Apple officially announced the new iPad mini on October 26, 2026, from 24,900 baht, confirming several of the rumors below. Read the full details in Apple unveils new iPad mini.

Apple is preparing to launch the 8th-generation iPad mini with its biggest upgrade in years — an A20 Pro chip, an OLED display, and a landscape front camera — according to rumor reports, which Apple has not yet confirmed.

According to a report from MacRumors by Joe Rossignol on September 30, 2026, Apple is preparing to launch the 8th-generation iPad mini, the biggest upgrade to this product in years, with 10 significant changes.

Chip and memory

At its core is the A20 Pro chip, built on TSMC's (the major Taiwanese chipmaker's) 2nm process, delivering about 1.5x higher CPU performance and 2.5x higher GPU performance compared with the A17 Pro in the current iPad mini, along with a dual 16-core Neural Engine totaling 32 cores for AI tasks. RAM increases from 8GB to 12GB, enabling full Apple Intelligence support.

Display, camera, and connectivity

The display switches from LCD to OLED, delivering more vivid colors and higher contrast, with thinner bezels. The landscape front camera moves from the top edge to the side edge, so when held horizontally the camera sits properly centered — suited for video calls and online meetings.

Connectivity uses Apple's own-designed N1 chip, supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, with a C1X or C2 modem for the cellular model. The speakers have been redesigned with no external holes, hidden along the top edge in the same style as iPhone, and this will be the first iPad mini to receive an IP water-resistance rating.

Timing and pricing

Apple is expected to launch the iPad mini 8 within this year, likely in October. The current model starts at $599 in the US, after Apple raised the price by $100 last June, citing surging chip, RAM, and memory costs. Combined with the higher cost of an OLED display, the iPad mini 8's price could end up higher than the current model.

Source: Techhaus Thailand (citing MacRumors)