iPad Mini 6 Rumored to Feature A15 Chip and Smart Connector

The sixth-generation iPad mini will feature an A15 chip and a Smart Connector, according to a report from 9to5Mac.

iPad mini pro feature
The next-generation ‌iPad mini‌ is reportedly codenamed "J310" and will feature a number of significant upgrades. The report claims that one of the key features of the new ‌iPad mini‌ will be the A15 chip, which is expected to debut in the iPhone 13 lineup later this year. The A15 is expected to be made with the same 5nm fabrication process as the A14 chip, and Apple is said to be working on a more powerful "A15X" variant for other iPad models set to launch at a later date.

As previously reported by the leaker Jon Prosser, the sixth-generation ‌iPad mini‌ will also have a USB-C port instead of the current model's Lightning port to open it up to a wider range of peripherals and accessories, bringing it in line with the iPad Pro and iPad Air.

The other major upgrade claimed to be arriving with the new ‌iPad mini‌ is a ‌Smart Connector‌, as previously shown on Jon Prosser's renders of the device that were purportedly based on leaked images. The report says that Apple is planning to release ‌Smart Connector‌ accessories for the new ‌iPad mini‌, but it is not clear what these may be.

Separately, the report also stated that the entry-level ‌iPad‌, reportedly codenamed "J181," is set to receive an update with the A13 chip from the ‌iPhone‌ 11 lineup. The current model features the A12 chip, meaning that the A13 could give the device a significant performance boost.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said that the new ‌iPad mini‌ is expected to launch this fall, and despite a range of inconsistent rumors around the device, most reports seem to have agreed on the device featuring a larger display in the region of 8.4-inches with slimmer bezels and an iPad Air-style redesign.

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Tag: 9to5Mac
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

sam sung auction

Former Apple Employee Sam Sung Changed His Name to Avoid Attention

Wednesday October 22, 2025 4:44 pm PDT by
Back in 2012, an Apple retail employee named Sam Sung went viral because his name is similar to Samsung, one of Apple's main competitors. In a recent interview with Business Insider, he detailed that period in his life, how Apple responded, and he explained why he ultimately changed his name. Someone posted an image of Sung's Apple business card on Reddit in 2012, and it spread rapidly....
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features for Your iPhone

Wednesday October 22, 2025 6:15 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more. iOS 26.1 is currently in beta testing. The update will likely be released in the first half of November, and it is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer, but some...
iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

iOS 26.1 Beta Liquid Glass Battery Drain Test: Tinted vs Clear Mode

Friday October 24, 2025 2:30 pm PDT by
In the fourth iOS 26.1 beta, Apple added a "Tinted" option that reduces the translucency of Liquid Glass for those who prefer a more opaque look. I saw some comments wondering whether the setting might preserve battery life, so I thought I'd do some testing. Test Settings I did four separate tests using the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and I kept the parameters as similar as possible. Here are the...
All Screen iPhone 2027 Feature 1

Report: Apple to Skip 'iPhone 19' Name for 'iPhone 20'

Thursday October 23, 2025 4:28 am PDT by
Apple's new iPhone lineup launched in the fall of 2027 will be called the "iPhone 20" models, rather than the "iPhone 19," according to research firm Omdia. Speaking at a conference in Seoul (via ETNews), Omdia Chief Researcher Heo Moo-yeol corroborated rumors that Apple plans to move the launch of its standard iPhone to the first half of the year and provided some additional clarity about...
trump white house ballroom

Apple Donating to Trump's $350M White House Ballroom Project

Thursday October 23, 2025 3:55 pm PDT by
Apple is one of several tech companies that will contribute to the construction of U.S. President Donald Trump's 90,000-square-foot ballroom, reports CNN. Construction began on the ballroom this week, and the White House's east wing was torn down. Trump claims that the ballroom will cost $350 million, and that it will be privately funded through donations. The cost has already increased $150 ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

iPhone Driver's License Feature in Apple Wallet App Launches in Another U.S. State

Thursday October 23, 2025 7:44 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Starting today, the feature is available to residents of West Virginia. To set it up, open the Wallet app and tap on the plus sign in...
cadillac lyric infotainment

GM to Remove CarPlay from All Future Vehicles, Including Gas Cars [Updated]

Wednesday October 22, 2025 11:34 am PDT by
General Motors began phasing out support for CarPlay in its electric vehicles back in 2023, leading to complaints from iPhone users, but the company has no plans to back down. In fact, GM is going further and plans to remove CarPlay from all future gas vehicles, too. In an interview with The Verge, GM CEO Mary Barra said that the company opted to prioritize its platform for EVs, but the...
iPhone Air

Report: 'Virtually No Demand' for iPhone Air

Wednesday October 22, 2025 3:22 am PDT by
Apple is "drastically" cutting production of the iPhone Air and shifting focus toward the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models, Nikkei Asia reports. The business publication claims to have learned of a major cut to iPhone Air production motivated by weaker-than-expected consumer interest, nearly to "end of production levels." Despite early reports of the iPhone Air selling out within hours of...
maxresdefault

Apple's iPhone Air Experiment Fails as Supply Chain Cuts Production by 80%

Wednesday October 22, 2025 10:48 am PDT by
iPhone Air demand failed to meet Apple's expectations and the company's supply chain is scaling back shipments and production, reports Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Suppliers are expected to reduce capacity by more than 80 percent between now and the first quarter of 2026, and some components with longer lead times will be discontinued ...
iOS 26 Feature

iOS 26 Leaker Being Sued by Apple is Actually a 'Lifelong Apple Fanboy'

Friday October 24, 2025 9:20 am PDT by
In July, Apple sued well-known YouTuber Jon Prosser and his acquaintance Michael Ramacciotti over alleged theft of the company's trade secrets, after Prosser leaked some iOS 26 details in videos uploaded to his YouTube channel Front Page Tech. If you are not caught up on the lawsuit, read our initial coverage to learn more. Earlier this week, Prosser told The Verge he has "been in active...

Top Rated Comments

w5jck Avatar
56 months ago

What’s the main point tho, the iPhones are big and the mini is to small for a tablet
Maybe the point should be that there are people out there who buy iPads other than you. The mini has been the best platform for reading IMO. It isn't big and bulky as its more powerful iPad cousins, nor too tiny like its iPhone cousins. It is the "Goldilocks" of iPads for those who love to read books. It is also way more portable for those who like to have an iPad with them but don't won’t to lug around one of the bigger models. It is a niche market, but so are all the iThingies... Long gone are the days when Henry Ford only sold Model Ts and only sold them in black color. People demand and get more options these days, and that is a good thing.
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
boak Avatar
56 months ago

What’s the main point tho, the iPhones are big and the mini is to small for a tablet
Isn't the iPad mini still approximately double the screen size of the iPhone 12 Pro Max?
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tenjikuronin Avatar
56 months ago

What’s the main point tho, the iPhones are big and the mini is to small for a tablet
Maybe for you. For me, a normal person, it’s the perfect size for reading and playing games.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HeavenDynamic Avatar
56 months ago
This is going to be a banger. I just hope it gets Face ID but it will probably just be a smaller iPad Air.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
56 months ago
Nice! It’ll be a worthy upgrade then.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GenesisST Avatar
56 months ago
I love it when people assume that their use case must be the same for everyone!
If you like a big phone and big tablet, more power to you!

I, for one, will jump on this, if it is true.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)