Overview
- Bloomberg reports Apple has internally tested a redesigned iPad mini casing that targets everyday splash protection, but the product remains unannounced by Apple.
- The company has explored a vibration-based speaker system that removes traditional speaker holes to reduce water ingress, a different tactic than the iPhone’s gasket-and-adhesive seals.
- No current iPad carries an official IP dust or water rating, and outlets say the specific rating for the redesigned mini—if any—has not been disclosed.
- An OLED display is expected for the next iPad mini, with reporting suggesting a debut as soon as 2026 though timing could slip.
- Multiple outlets say the starting price could rise by up to $100 over today’s $499 model, as Apple weighs the new casing and OLED costs against rivals that already sell water-resistant tablets.