Apple may have accidentally confirmed the next iPad mini before announcing it. As first spotted by MacRumors, the company's French regulatory website lists a Smart Folio for iPad mini under model number A3632, a number that does not match any product Apple currently sells. 9to5Mac reported the listing on October 15, 2026.
The document is dated September 8, 2026, so it is not clear exactly when Apple added it. According to 9to5Mac, the new case differs from the Smart Folio for the sixth-generation iPad mini in two measurable ways: it uses at least 3% recycled materials, versus a minimum of 9% before, and contains at least 6,610 milligrams of rare earth elements, versus 3,947 milligrams in the older model, which may point to changes in the magnets.
iPad mini OLED launch date and what to expect
A new accessory with its own model number usually means the device it attaches to has changed shape. The sixth- and seventh-generation iPad mini share the same Smart Folio, so a fresh case suggests the upcoming tablet will have physical differences that break compatibility with the current cover.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says Apple is inviting media to an all-day product launch experience on October 28 in Los Angeles, per GSMArena. The event is expected to cover the OLED iPad mini, touchscreen MacBooks, an M6-powered 14-inch MacBook Pro and an iMac. Gurman had earlier pointed to October 27, so Apple could announce the products that day and hold hands-on sessions a day later.
iPad mini OLED specs: rumors and open questions
The next iPad mini is rumored to bring an OLED display, Apple's A20 Pro chip, thinner bezels, a relocated front-facing camera and a redesigned speaker system. Bloomberg has also reported that Apple is working on a more water-resistant design, while recent rumors suggest the tablet could cost considerably more than its predecessor.
One detail is still disputed. Reports disagree on whether the new iPad mini keeps a 60Hz refresh rate or moves to 120Hz ProMotion. Leaker yeux1122 recently repeated that the device will stay at 60Hz OLED, while Gurman said Apple tested both options but has not confirmed which one it chose. Apple has not commented on any of these claims.
