Apple may be preparing to give its smallest iPad a major performance upgrade.
The upcoming iPad mini 8 will reportedly use the same A20 Pro chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro, according to code discovered by MacRumors. Other leaked Apple assets point to a landscape front camera and changes to the speaker system.
If accurate, the upgrade would take the iPad mini directly from the A17 Pro to the A20 Pro, skipping two generations of Apple’s Pro-branded mobile chips. Separate reports have also pointed to an OLED display and improved water resistance, although Apple has not announced the tablet or confirmed any of its specifications.
iPad mini 8 could make a three-generation chip jump
The current iPad mini uses the A17 Pro chip originally developed for the iPhone 15 Pro. Code reportedly uncovered by MacRumors instead links the next-generation iPad mini to the newer A20 Pro used in Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
That would represent a substantial processor jump for the compact tablet and could improve performance for gaming, creative applications, and increasingly demanding on-device AI workloads.
However, sharing the A20 Pro name would not necessarily mean the iPad mini 8 performs identically to the iPhone 18 Pro.
Apple already uses a modified version of the A17 Pro in the current iPad mini, with a five-core GPU rather than the six-core GPU found in the iPhone 15 Pro. Apple could take a similar approach with the A20 Pro.
Memory is another unanswered question.
The current iPad mini has 8GB of RAM, while the iPhone 18 Pro has 12GB. The leaked code does not reveal how much memory Apple plans to include in the new tablet, making it difficult to know how closely its AI capabilities will match those of the latest Pro iPhones.
For business users, the combination of a small form factor and more powerful on-device processing could be useful in retail, field work, inventory management, and other environments where a full-size laptop or tablet is less practical.
Apple may finally move the iPad mini camera
The processor isn’t the only apparent change.
MacRumors reportedly found device schematic glyphs in Apple’s code showing the iPad mini 8 with its front-facing camera moved to the landscape edge.
That would bring the mini in line with Apple’s other current iPads, where placing the camera along the landscape edge makes video calls more natural when the tablet is used horizontally.
The leaked images also appear to show changes around the speaker area, although the exact design and purpose remain unclear.
Only the front of the device appears in the reported images, leaving any changes to the back or sides unknown, according to MacRumors
OLED and water resistance remain separate rumors
Some of the most significant potential upgrades are not confirmed by the latest code leak.
Bloomberg has previously reported that Apple is developing a more water-resistant iPad mini and exploring a vibration-based speaker system that could reduce the need for traditional speaker openings.
If Apple adds meaningful water resistance, it would distinguish the new model from current iPads, which do not carry an official water-resistance rating.
The next iPad mini has also been reported to be moving from LCD to OLED, although Apple has not confirmed the change. Reports also suggested a slightly larger OLED panel, potentially bringing deeper blacks, stronger contrast, and other display improvements.
Neither OLED nor water resistance is confirmed by the latest leak, however.
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When could the iPad mini 8 arrive?
Apple has not announced the iPad mini 8 or provided an official release date.
Previous reporting has suggested the tablet could arrive in October, potentially as part of Apple’s next round of hardware updates, but the timing remains unconfirmed.
Pricing is equally uncertain. The current iPad mini starts at $599, while earlier reports suggested an OLED-equipped successor could carry a higher price.
For anyone considering the current model, the reported A20 Pro upgrade gives buyers a reason to watch Apple’s next move. If the leaks prove accurate, the iPad mini 8 could deliver more than a routine processor refresh, with changes potentially extending to its camera, display, speakers, and durability.
Until Apple makes it official, however, the A20 Pro remains the strongest clue about what could be coming next.
Other news: A refurbished 10th-generation iPad with 256GB of storage is available for $299.99, offering the A14 Bionic chip, a 10.9-inch display, and USB-C connectivity for about half its original price.