iPad mini 8 may be even more powerful than previously expected

A recent iOS 26 internal build leak has opened up a treasure trove of information about Apple’s upcoming products. One of the more interesting is the next iPad mini, which will be its 8th generation following last year’s release. The leak suggests that the next iPad mini will be even more powerful than previously expected, making it even better value for those who prefer the compact form factor of the smaller iPad.

Rumors from late last month suggested that the new iPad mini will feature a significantly more powerful SoC than the A17 Pro in the current generation of the tablet, the A19 Pro that powers current generation of iPhone Pro models. In itself, that would have been a major upgrade as the A19 Pro is around 20% to 30% faster than the A17 Pro. However, the iOS 26 build leak points to the iPad mini 8 packing the A20 Pro chip instead, as per the leak summary by 'Kang' on Weibo.

The A20 Pro is expected to power the next generation of iPhones, the iPhone 18 series, as well as the rumored iPhone Fold. The A20 chips are designed on the newer and more efficient 2 nm manufacturing process, a first for Apple. This is expected to bring up to 15% more power and 30% more efficiency compared to the 3 nm based A19 series. On paper, the iPad mini 8 is shaping up to be a performance powerhouse.

Not just the SoC upgrade, the new iPad mini is also said to feature an 8.5-inch OLED screen, though capped at 60 Hz. As for release, the new tablet is expected to arrive in Q3 2026 so these might not be the final specifications. Of course, Apple has not shared any information about its upcoming products so take this with a grain of salt.