Apple's OLED iPad Mini Could Launch October 27, Report Says

A new OLED iPad mini is reportedly on Apple's calendar for an event around October 27, 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The report ties the smaller tablet to the same event expected to introduce a touchscreen MacBook Pro, with Apple yet to confirm any date or details.

The headline change: an OLED screen
The current iPad mini uses an 8.3-inch LCD panel, and the new model is expected to switch to OLED, supplied by Samsung Display. Reports say mass production of the panels began back in June 2026, and the design is said to use a single-stack LTPS OLED panel rather than the tandem setup found in the iPad Pro.

Size and display questions still open
Estimates for the new screen size range from 8.4 to 8.7 inches, with some earlier analyst reports pointing to 8.5 inches on the same chassis size as today's model. The refresh rate is still unclear: Gurman said on an October 15 podcast that Apple has tested both standard 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion panels but couldn't confirm which one made the final cut.

A faster chip and new wireless hardware
A September 2026 code leak reported by MacRumors points to Apple's A20 Pro chip, replacing an earlier rumor of an A19 Pro. The same leak suggests Apple's N1 networking chip, which would bring Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support, with cellular models expected to use Apple's own C1X modem instead of a third-party chip.

Memory and other details
The current iPad mini ships with 8GB of RAM, and while a bump is possible for the new model, nothing in the leaked code confirms it either way. Apple has not addressed storage tiers, cameras, or battery life for the new model.

What it might cost
The iPad mini's starting price moved from $499 to $599 back in June 2026. Gurman's Power On newsletter on October 11 suggested the OLED model could start closer to $799, though the report labels that figure unconfirmed pending an official announcement.

Multiple sources point the same direction
Beyond Gurman's reporting, MacRumors has cited both code found in Apple's software and a French regulatory filing as signs the device is real and close to release. None of these sources confirm final specifications, and Apple has not announced an event.

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