Quick Summary
A new iPad Mini could arrive really soon.
That would see the cutest iPad in the range snag an OLED panel.
The iPad Mini is – rather ironically, given its slight frame – starting to feel like a bus. Lovers of the cutesy little sibling to heavier duty iPads finally got a new model last year, and now it looks like another one could come soon.
The news comes from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, who is widely regarded as a leading voice when it comes to getting the inside track on Apple news. His report suggests that a trio of Apple devices are set to gain an OLED panel – the MacBook Air, iPad Mini and iPad Air.
What's more, it's suggested that the baby of the bunch – the iPad Mini – will get the treatment first, with that model possibly arriving as early as next spring. That fresh technology does come at a cost though, with the model expected to carry a US$100 (approx. £75 / €85 / AU$150) surcharge over the current iteration.
That's going to be a tough pill to swallow. That would take the iPad Mini to US$599, which is a pretty steep for what will most likely only ever be a casual device for consumption.
Still, there are some other bits of tech which are expected to arrive there as well. The model is expected to enjoy better water resistance, thanks to a new speaker system which makes use of vibration technology to remove speaker holes.
That's something we've heard rumours of for years, with the iPhone usually the model cited to take the portless design to market. It certainly seems that the iPad Mini could be a testbed for that ethos, and this would be a perfect first piece of tech for that format.
Another point of note from the report is that the base-level iPad isn't expected to get the technology at all. That's possibly quite obvious – it does feel a little pro-grade for an entry-level device – but worth noting regardless.
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Sam Cross is an award-winning journalist, with nine years of experience in the media industry. His work can be found in publications as diverse as Oracle Time, Metro and Last Word on Sports.
Here at T3, Sam is best known as the brand’s go-to guy for all things luxurious – from exquisite watches to fine fragrances; the latest performance vehicles to intricate audio equipment, and more.
He’s often found travelling around the world to test new launches, complete with high-end backpacks and suitcases in tow. And when he’s not adding to his air miles, Sam can be found in front of a video camera, bringing his distinctive brand of storytelling to T3’s social media channels.
Sam also loves all things analogue including listening to music on vinyl or cassette, and photography on vintage film cameras.
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