Apple's next-generation iPad mini now looks set to be powered by the unreleased A20 Pro chip, rather than the previously rumored A19 Pro, a source who analyzed internal codenames in a macOS kernel debugging suite that was mistakenly posted on Apple's official website earlier this year and quickly removed from shelves due to too many leaks.
Earlier leaked codes pointed to the A19 Pro, which is the same model as the iPhone 17 Pro, for the new iPad mini, but the informant believes that the latest code name information is more in line with the configuration trend of the A20 Pro, so he is quite confident that it will be replaced by the A20 Pro.
It is still impossible to 100% rule out the possibility that it is the A19 Pro, because Apple may have tested the A19 Pro and A20 Pro solutions in the early stages of development, and internal planning may also change as the product rhythm is adjusted. Judging from the time window, if the next-generation iPad mini is confirmed to be updated in September or October 2026, it would be logically smoother to directly use the A20 Pro, which is the same generation as the iPhone 18 Pro and is based on TSMC's 2-nanometer process. Therefore, some observers tend to believe that this will be the final version.
The iPad mini product line has been relatively inconsistent in the use of chips in the past. On the one hand, the 2021 iPhone 13 series and the contemporary iPad mini have fully adopted A15 Bionic at the same time, which is a typical case of "full line of same-generation chips"; on the other hand, the iPad mini has not always been updated with the most advanced A-series chips of the season over the years, which means that the earlier generation A19 Pro still has a certain chance of appearing on mass-produced models. At the same time, the market generally expects that the 2026 iPhone 18 Pro will launch with the A20 Pro. If the iPad mini also uses the same SoC, its performance positioning will be significantly improved, closer to a "small-size flagship tablet."
Rumored configurations of the new iPad mini include the use of an OLED panel, the introduction of a new speaker system with vibration feedback, and a body design with certain water resistance. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has previously reported that the next-generation iPad mini may even debut at some point next year. The current-generation model will be released in October 2024, equipped with A17 Pro and supports Apple Intelligence. It is widely expected that the new model will continue the combination of "portable size + high performance + AI functions", but the specific release time and final chip selection are still to be confirmed by subsequent leaks and Apple's official announcement.
