Apple's plans for its smaller and more affordable iPads have evolved significantly since the first chip-related leaks appeared in August 2025. At the time, references found in code accidentally made available by Apple indicated that a future iPad mini was being developed with an A19 Pro chip, while the next entry-level iPad was associated with the A18.
Those discoveries were noteworthy because Apple's existing models were—and, as of September 2026, still are—powered by considerably older chips. The current iPad mini uses the A17 Pro, while the standard iPad uses the A16. However, newer information found in Apple software code in September 2026 now points to different processors for both upcoming models, suggesting Apple's hardware plans advanced while the devices remained in development.
The Original iPad Mini Leak Pointed to A19 Pro
In August 2025, MacRumors reported references to unreleased iPad mini models with the identifiers J510 and J511. The code associated those devices with Apple's A19 Pro chip.
That would already have represented a substantial step beyond the A17 Pro inside the current model. Apple introduced the A17 Pro iPad mini in October 2024, adding support for Apple Intelligence alongside a faster CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine. Apple's launch announcement confirmed the 8.3-inch tablet's A17 Pro processor and Apple Intelligence support.
The A19 Pro subsequently became a shipping chip in Apple's iPhone 17 Pro family and iPhone Air in 2025. However, Apple never announced an A19 Pro iPad mini.
Newer Apple Code Now Points to A20 Pro
The picture changed again in September 2026. On September 25, MacRumors reported that newer Apple code references identify the next iPad mini with an A20 Pro chip rather than the previously indicated A19 Pro.
The distinction is important. Apple officially introduced A20 Pro with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September 2026. According to Apple's specifications, the iPhone implementation uses a 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine and is manufactured using a 2-nanometer process.
That does not mean an iPad mini would necessarily receive exactly the same CPU, GPU, memory, or thermal configuration as the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple sometimes uses differently configured versions of the same chip across products. Until Apple announces the tablet, its final specifications remain unconfirmed.
The September 2026 leak also points to a landscape-positioned front camera and changes to the speaker arrangement. Separate reporting has associated the next iPad mini with an OLED display and improved water resistance, but Apple has not officially announced any of these features.
The Entry-Level iPad Was Originally Linked to A18
The second part of the 2025 leak concerned Apple's least expensive iPad. Code examined at the time associated unreleased models J581 and J582 with the A18 processor.
That looked like an especially meaningful upgrade because the standard iPad had moved to the A16 only a few months earlier. Apple announced that model on March 4, 2025, and began selling it on March 12. It originally started at $349 in the United States with 128GB of storage, according to Apple's launch announcement.
The A16 model does not support Apple Intelligence. Moving to a newer chip therefore matters for more than conventional CPU and graphics performance: it would allow Apple's least expensive tablet to join the rest of the modern iPad lineup in supporting Apple's on-device intelligence features.
The Latest Leak Says A19, 8GB of RAM, and New Connectivity
As with the iPad mini, Apple's apparent plans for the standard iPad have changed since the original report. On September 25, 2026, MacRumors reported that newer Apple code points to an A19 chip for the next entry-level iPad rather than the A18 identified in 2025.
The same code reportedly references 8GB of RAM, Apple's N1 wireless networking chip, and its C1X cellular modem. If those specifications reach the final product, the RAM and processor upgrade would give the entry-level iPad the hardware needed for Apple Intelligence, while N1 would add newer connectivity technologies including Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. Cellular models could also move from the Qualcomm modem used in the current generation to Apple's C1X.
These details remain leak-derived rather than officially announced specifications, so they should not be treated as final until Apple unveils the device.
What Is Actually Available Today?
Despite more than a year of leaks, Apple has not yet replaced either tablet. As of September 2026, Apple's current iPad mini listing still shows the A17 Pro model, while the standard iPad remains based on the A16 chip.
The next iPad mini appears to be closer to release. Recent reporting has pointed to a possible launch by the end of October 2026, although Apple has not announced a date. The next entry-level iPad appears to be farther away, with current reporting pointing toward 2027 rather than the earlier 2026 expectations.
The broader story, therefore, has changed considerably from the first leak. The 2025 evidence suggested an A19 Pro iPad mini and an A18 standard iPad. The newest code discoveries instead point to an A20 Pro iPad mini and an A19-powered entry-level iPad. Until Apple makes the products official, however, even code references should be treated as strong evidence of hardware under development rather than guaranteed retail specifications.
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