6 Reasons to Wait for the iPad Mini 7 & 5 Reasons Not To

Apple’s reportedly working on a new iPad mini. There are some great reasons to wait for the rumored iPad mini 7, but there are also some great reasons to skip it and buy another tablet.

If you’re searching for a new tablet, you’ll want to investigate Apple’s lineup which includes an entry-level iPad, the iPad Pro, the iPad Air, and the iPad mini. The iPad mini line is an excellent choice for those who need a tablet that’s extremely portable.

Right now, the iPad mini 6 serves as the company’s top-of-the-line in the iPad mini family, but that should change later this year.

While many of you will be perfectly fine buying the iPad mini 6 or iPad mini 5, you’ll want to take note of the iPad mini 7 rumors swirling around.

The iPad mini 7, or seventh-generation iPad mini, doesn’t have a definitive release date or set of features, but that will change as the year goes on and new information is released.

Respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the iPad mini 7 is currently in development. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also says Apple’s working on a new iPad mini.

We probably won’t see a massive revamp of the company’s smallest tablet though iPad mini 7 rumors do suggest we could see at least one big change.

These rumors put those of you in the market for a new iPad in a tough spot. Buy the iPad mini 6 or another tablet right now or wait and see what Apple has up its sleeve? We want to help you draw some conclusions and, perhaps, make a choice.

In this guide we’ll take you through the best reasons to consider waiting for the rumored iPad mini 7 and the best reasons to go with something else.

Wait for Performance Improvements

Perhaps the biggest change coming on board the next iPad mini is an improved processor.

According to Kuo, Apple’s “currently working on a new version of the iPad mini equipped with a new processor as the main selling point.”

Kuo doesn’t call the processor out by name, but it’ll be a newer chip than the A15 Bionic that’s currently inside the company’s iPad mini 6. It’s also the same chip found inside the iPhone 13.

Gurman also says the iPad mini 7 will have a new processor and says the device will probably offer little more than that.

9to5Mac concurs and says an iPad mini 7 with a new chip is still on track for launch.

Leaker Instant Digital on Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo claims the chip will be Apple’s A16 Bionic.

A private user on X/Twitter has released technical information about chips for unreleased Apple products and their information suggests the iPad mini 7 could skip the A16 and jump to Apple’s newer A17 processor.

A newer processor like the A17 would likely lead to performance enhancements like improved battery life and overall speed which are essential for a portable device like the iPad mini.

We may also see other improvements like a new modem which could enhance connectivity.

Wait for An Affordable Flagship

If you want a newer iPad model, but don’t want to shell out a ton of money and/or you aren’t interested in the company’s entry-level model, think about waiting for the iPad mini 7.

The iPad mini 6 is still an attractive option, but it’s getting older. The sixth-generation iPad mini 6 was released all the way back September, 2021.

When the iPad mini 7 arrives, it will almost certainly be cheaper than the base versions of the iPad Pro and iPad Air.

We don’t know if the iPad mini 7 price will fall in line with the iPad mini 6’s pricing structure, but that’s what you can expect right now. The iPad mini 6 starts at $499 without a deal.

So if you want a newer iPad model (improved hardware, better software support, etc), but don’t want to break the bank, waiting for the iPad mini 7 is an option to consider.

Wait for Better Cameras

According to leaker Instant Digital on Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo, the iPad mini 7 is set to get rear and front-facing camera upgrades.

Unfortunately, the leaker didn’t elaborate on what we can expect so it’s unclear how significant they might be.

Apple’s iPad mini 6 utilizes a a 12MP rear camera with an ƒ/1.8 aperture and a 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera with an ƒ/2.4 aperture.

We could certainly see improved hardware, but it’s possible these upgrades come in the form of new software features.

Wait for Reduced Jelly Scrolling

Complaints about “jelly scrolling” popped up after the release of the iPad mini 6. Fortunately, it sounds like Apple will remedy the issue with the release of the iPad mini 7.

Apple says the behavior is typical on LCD displays. It’s fairly subtle, but it can be annoying because it makes text appear wobbly.

According to Instant Digital on Weibo, the iPad mini 7’s screen assembly will be rotated in order to reduce jelly scrolling.

This would be a welcomed change though, like all rumors, you’ll want to take it with a grain of salt.

Wait for Apple Pencil 3 Support

According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, a new third-generation Apple Pencil will arrive in 2024.

Gurman says the new Pencil is codenamed B532 behind the scenes and it will replace the second generation version of the product.

It should arrive in the spring alongside the new iPad Pros and iPad Air 6.

The most up-to-date version of the Apple Pencil, the second-gen model, was released all the way back in 2018.

Awhile ago, a fairly reliable leaker named Mr. White shared an image of what very well could be a third-generation Apple Pencil.

Details are scarce, but the stylus in the photo appears to have a glossy finish rather than a matte finish. Apple’s current Apple Pencil uses a matte finish.

The pencil in the photo also has a different tip. Specifically, the tip looks like it’s much larger than the tips on the first and second-generation Apple Pencils.

These changes are backed up by a purported video of the new Apple Pencil from an anonymous user on Twitter.

Another leaker named “Uncle Pan Pan” (via Chinese micr0-blogging site Weibo), also says Apple is prepping a new Pencil.

Leaker Majin Bu, in a tweet from October, says Apple is still working on a new Apple Pencil and it will come with “interchangeable magnetic tips” that can used for different activities like drawing, technical drawing and painting.

9to5Mac recently discovered code lurking within Apple’s upcoming iOS 17.4 update and it seems to confirm the Apple Pencil 3.

The code hints at compatibility with the Find My app which would be extremely useful for those who like to take accessories on-the-go.

There’s a chance Apple limits Apple Pencil 3 support to newer iPad models, like the iPad mini 7, so keep that in mind as you hunt for your next tablet.

Wait for New Color Options

If you aren’t thrilled with the iPad mini’s current colors, you might want to wait.

According to leaker Instant Digital, Apple is planning to bring new color options to the iPad mini line in 2024.

Right now, Apple offers the iPad mini in Pink, Purple, Space Gray, and Starlight. The leaker didn’t provide a list of new colors so we don’t know if Apple will swap some of the current ones out or refresh everything entirely.

There’s a chance the color options fall in line with the iPhone 15’s color scheme which includes Black, Blue, Green, Pink, and Yellow.

Don’t Wait If You Can’t Wait Awhile

The iPad mini 7 should arrive in 2024 though it won’t launch in the spring or summer.

In 2022, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass shipments of the iPad mini 7 were expected to start by the end of 2023 or sometime in the first half of 2024.

Kuo now says mass production of the new iPad mini has been delayed to the second half 0f 2024 which means it won’t arrive in Apple’s March-April window.

If Kuo’s information is accurate, and his supply chain sources often are, it means we’ll probably see the new iPad mini arrive in the summer or sometime in September or October.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also says the iPad mini 7 will miss the spring and it will arrive sometime later on in 2024. Gurman believes this is the earliest the device will launch

If you can’t wait that long, you’ll want to move on.

Don’t Wait for a Massive Overhaul

Apple will launch a revamped version of the iPad Pro in 2024, but it looks like the iPad mini 7 will be a far more modest release.

As we’ve mentioned, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman both think the device’s new processor will be its biggest selling point. In other words, it sounds like the device will get a spec bump and not a whole lot else.

So at this stage, we don’t expect it to come with a drastically altered design or massive improvements to features like the camera. It will likely stand as a refreshed version of the iPad mini 6.

For many of you, that might be what you’re after. But if you want something shinier, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.

Don’t Wait for an OLED Screen or 120Hz

Apple will reportedly bring an OLED display to the iPad mini line, but it won’t happen in 2024.

While the iPad Pro will move from LCD to OLED, the same can’t be said for the iPad mini or iPad Air.

According to The Elec, a South Korean publication, it may not happen in 2025 either. Instead, Apple may be targeting 2026 for an 8.7-inch OLED iPad mini release.

Given the iPad mini’s release cycle, the device in question is probably the iPad mini 8, or eight-generation iPad mini.

A move to OLED would mean better power consumption, a higher contrast ratio, and improved color accuracy. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait beyond 2024.

The iPad mini 7 may also miss out on a feature potential buyers have been hoping for.

Tech_Reve, a leaker on X/Twitter, says their sources indicate the iPad mini 7 won’t have a 120Hz ProMotion display.

Of course, the lack of a 120Hz display isn’t confirmed, but given what we’ve heard about the iPad mini 7 being a minor refresh, it makes sense.

Don’t Wait for iPad Deals

You don’t have to wait for Apple’s announcements to save money on a new iPad mini or another version of the iPad.

The iPad mini 6 has been on shelves for well over a year now and we’ve seen retailers offer some big price cuts with more to come.

We’ll probably see some amazing deals emerge throughout the year so there’s no reason to pay full retail price for the iPad mini 6. Same goes for the iPad mini 5.

We’ll also see a variety of deals on Apple’s other iPad models including the entry-level iPad, the iPad Pro, and the iPad Air.

Don’t Wait If You Find A Tablet You Like

If you find a tablet you love at a great price, don’t let the iPad mini 7 rumors hold you back.

Again, the iPad mini 6 is older, but it’s still in great shape and it’s set to get iPadOS software updates for the foreseeable future. The iPad mini 5 is also an excellent budget alternative.

You’ll also want to investigate the current versions of the entry-level iPad, the iPad Pro, and the iPad Air as well as older variants.

There are also some great Android options out there including Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S6 You might also check out Amazon’s Fire tablets and Microsoft’s Surface Go line.

Gather intelligence about all these devices right now or in the near future. You might find something you like before Apple makes its iPad mini 7 announcement.