iPad mini 2024: New leak reveals generational upgrades

The iPad mini 7, perhaps next to the iPhone 16, is arguably one of the most anticipated Apple products. The current-generation iPad mini debuted in 2021, and Apple hasn’t updated it since.

However, rumor has it that the Cupertino-based tech giant is planning to launch a new iPad mini this year, along with the 11th-generation iPad, according to MacRumors. And Nicolás Álvarez over at X has discovered some clues about generational upgrades due to a reference in Apple’s backend code (h/t @aaronp613 is not following anyone.).

iPad mini 2024: new improvements expected

Apple has discontinued the iPad Air and iPad Pro (the thinnest product launched by the Cupertino-based tech giant), and the company is now focusing on two new iPads: the iPad mini 7 and the 11th-generation iPad.

According to Álvarez’s findings, the iPad mini 7 is expected to feature an A17 chip. It’s not yet known whether this will be the A17 Pro processor found in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro models, but if so, MacRumors claims it could be powered by Apple Intelligence.

However, the 11th-generation iPad is said to feature an A16 processor, a step up from the A14 Bionic chip found in the current 10th-generation model.

Did Apple originally plan to launch an M3 iPad Pro?

Alvarez’s discovery revealed that Apple is reportedly planning to release an M3 iPad Pro this year, not an M4 iPad Pro. The previous iPad Pro was powered by an M2 chip, so naturally, we were expecting an M3 iPad Pro.

Instead, Apple surprised the tech world, skipped the M3 chip and launched the M4 iPad Pro. It turns out that the Cupertino-based giant is reportedly planning to launch an M3 iPad Pro initially, but it seems Apple changed its plans at the last minute.

Finally, Álvarez says we should expect an M5 iPad Pro next year or early 2026.