Apple is expected to launch new iPhones in a matter of weeks, but the rumored iPad Mini is the device I’m most looking forward to.
A new iPad Mini might be coming alongside the new iPhone 16 series. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the current stock of iPad Mini is running low across Apple stores, possibly suggesting that a successor could be unveiled as soon as during the company’s “It’s Glowtime” event on September 9. That would be just in time for the release of Apple Intelligence.
The iPad Mini, last updated in 2021, is due for a refresh. This could be the ideal moment for a processor upgrade and some minor physical tweaks. While there are no confirmed specifications yet, the previous iPad Mini launched with the then-new A15 Bionic chipset. The next iteration might feature the iPhone 15 Pro’s SoC or the A16 processor.
I’m excited about the new iPad Mini because in recent years, I’ve struggled to find practical uses for iPads. In 2021, I replaced my old iPad with the iPad Air 4, hoping to integrate it into my workflow, but that never happened. As a remote worker who’s always on the go, my iPad Air has spent most of its time sitting in a drawer. I can’t even remember the last time I needed to use it.
I knew I needed a smaller tablet for media consumption and reading on my travels. That’s why I picked up the iPad Mini after my most recent CES trip, and it has since become a part of my daily life. Unlike the fancier, more expensive iPads, the Mini works for me because it isn’t trying to be a MacBook replacement and is instead more of an extension of my phone and laptop.
My iPad use cases are browsing, reading, and watching videos — in that order of priority.
