A new report from DigiTimes stated that Apple may be preparing to release the seventh-generation iPad mini before the end of this year.
In a report discussing stagnant global tablet demand in the second half of 2023, DigiTimes predicts that Apple’s market share will increase due to orders for “small-format” iPads in the fourth quarter. Here is an excerpt from the report:
In the second quarter, iPad shipments declined more sequentially than non-iPad tablets, resulting in iPad shipment share declining for two consecutive quarters. However, the data shows that the share will gradually recover in the second half of the year due to Apple's inventory replenishment needs in the third quarter and orders for the new small-size iPad in the fourth quarter.It is understood that DigiTimes obtains information from suppliers that make parts for iPhones and other Apple products. Its sources often provide reliable information, but the website is uneven in interpreting this information and accurately inferring Apple’s plans. record of. It’s best to take the site’s information with a grain of salt until the information is corroborated by other sources, especially when it comes to rumors.
That being said, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported earlier this year that an iPad mini refresh with minor “spec bumps” isn’t out of the question. Last month, tipster “ShrimpApplePro” also hinted that Apple was developing a seventh-generation iPad mini, saying they had seen evidence that at least one new iPad model would be released this year.
However, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in January that he believed the seventh-generation iPad mini would most likely begin mass production in the first quarter of 2024, and Kuo recently said he doesn’t expect any new iPads this year.
The current sixth-generation iPad mini is equipped with the A15 Bionic chip, while the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro use A16 and A17 Pro chips respectively. The seventh-generation iPad mini may upgrade the processor, and may also upgrade the front and rear cameras, which may Bringing features like the Photon Engine to the iPad for the first time, other possible new features include Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
