So, I've been digging into the latest whispers surrounding Apple's next iPad mini, and it's getting interesting. A source who had a look at a macOS kernel debug kit – which Apple accidentally let slip onto their website earlier this year – reckons the new iPad mini will pack an A20 Pro chip.

Now, I know what you might be thinking. Didn't we hear before that it would have the A19 Pro, the chip that's supposed to debut in the iPhone 17 Pro? That's what I thought, too! But this source seems pretty sure that the codenames they saw point to the A20 Pro instead. Honestly, I can't say for sure which one it will be. Apple's plans can shift, and maybe they were testing with an A19 Pro at first. But if the next iPad mini isn't coming out until late 2026, maybe they decided to go all-in with the A20 Pro.

It's not unusual for Apple to mix things up with their chips. Back in 2021, they launched the A15 Bionic across the iPhone 13 lineup and the iPad mini at the same time. However, the iPad mini hasn't always gotten the newest chip when it's been updated, so the A19 Pro is still a possibility. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

What Else Can We Expect?

The iPhone 18 Pro models are also said to be getting the A20 Pro, and it's rumored to be built using TSMC's fancy new 2nm process. If that’s true, the performance jump should be pretty significant. Beyond the chip, the next iPad mini is also rumored to have an OLED display. Imagine how vibrant and sharp the screen will be! There's talk of a redesigned speaker system that uses vibration tech. And a water-resistant design.

According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, the next iPad mini could be here as early as next year. For comparison, the current iPad mini came out in October 2024 and boasts an A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support. I, for one, can't wait to see what Apple has in store for us.