iPad Mini returns to the game: Apple is preparing a “small flagship” with OLED and rebuilding its entire line of tablets

In the fall, Apple is going to shake up the tablet market: a new iPad Mini has matured in Cupertino — with an OLED screen and ambitions that the line has not had for many years. And in 2027, the updated Air and basic iPad will follow. The industry is already debating what this means for the market and for Russian users.

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The iPad Mini line has long lived in the shadow of its big brothers, notes xrust. The last major update was back in 2021, and the device gradually turned into a niche tool for those who need a compact tablet “for every day.”

But this year, Apple decided to return the Mini to the spotlight. According to supply chain sources, the company is preparing a model with an OLED display, a technology that was previously only available in the iPhone and expensive iPad Pro.

For the Russian reader, this means a simple thing: the picture will become the same as on top-end devices , which means Mini ceases to be the “little brother” and turns into a full-fledged premium product.

Autumn — for Mini, 2027 — for the rest

It is interesting that Apple is changing the usual rhythm of updates. Mini will be shown this fall, release is expected in October.

But the company is postponing Air and the basic iPad until next year. According to insiders, Air will be released in the spring of 2027 in two sizes — 11 and 13 inches. The base iPad will receive a new processor, but the design will remain the same: Apple decided not to touch the form factor, which sells well among students and users who need a “no-frills work tablet.”

Why is Apple in such a hurry with the Mini

In the last two quarters, iPad sales unexpectedly revived — growth of about 6%, revenue of almost 30 billion dollars (approximately 2.7 trillion rubles ).

This is a rare case for Apple: tablets are making money again. And in Cupertino they decided to build on the success — to bring the Mini into the premium segment, and improve the characteristics of the Air and the basic iPad.

Experts we spoke with believe that the bet on the Mini is Apple's attempt to close the niche of compact devices after the company removed the iPod touch. Parents in the US and Europe actively bought Minis for children as “not a phone, but a device for studying.” In Russia, this logic also works: Mini is often taken as a compact tablet for school and travel.

OLED — beautiful, but expensive

The OLED screen is the main upgrade for the Mini. But there is a nuance: the price will increase .

Last month, Apple already raised the price of almost the entire line. Here's what it looks like in rubles (at the current rate):

• basic iPad — 449 $ → ~41,000 ₽
• iPad Mini — 599 $ → ~55 000 ₽
• iPad Air 13″ — 949 $ → ~87,000 ₽
• iPad Pro 13″ — $1,499 → ~138,000 ₽

The new Mini with OLED, according to analysts, may go into the range of 65–70 thousand rubles .

For the Russian market, this is no longer a “compact tablet for a child,” but a device of the “I want a small, but top-end” level.

Industry argues: Mini versus foldable iPhone

There is another plot that Apple itself is unwittingly fueling. In the fall, the company will show its first foldable iPhone — a screen of about 7.8 inches when unfolded.

That is, in terms of area it almost catches up with the Mini (8.3 inches).

The industry is already discussing: why does Apple simultaneously release two devices with a similar form factor?

The answer is simple: price. A folding iPhone will cost 2000 $+ , that is, about 185-190 thousand rubles . Mini is three times cheaper.

For the Russian market, this means that the Mini will remain the only compact Apple device that can be purchased without a loan.

What users and social networks say

In Western social networks, the reaction is mixed:

• Mini fans are happy with OLED and call the update “the return of a legend”;
• some users believe that Apple is simply “catching up with the market,” where compact tablets have long gone premium;
• iPad Pro owners joke that the Mini is now “a small Pro without the show-off.”

In Russian Telegram channels, the discussion is more mundane: people are trying to understand how much the Mini will rise in price and would it make sense to take it instead of Air.

Historical background: Mini as an answer to Android tablets

Mini appeared in 2012 as a response to the wave of small Android tablets. Then Apple had to “grab land” from competitors who were actively selling 7‑inch devices.

Then the market changed: smartphones grew and the Mini became less relevant. But after the demise of the iPod touch and the growing interest in compact gadgets, the Mini came to life again.

The OLED version is Apple's attempt to return the Mini to the premium segment, where it has never been before.

Analytics: what does this mean for Russia

1. Mini will be a device for adults, not for children. The price will go into the “premium” zone, and parents will look towards the basic iPad.
2. Air may become the main tablet for the Russian market. In the spring of 2027, it will receive an update, and it will be the Air that will balance between price and performance.
3. The folding iPhone will remain exotic in Russia. The price above 180 thousand rubles is a niche for enthusiasts.
4. The tablet market will revive. After several years of stagnation, Apple is again investing in the line, which means competitors will also begin to move.

Other news

Somewhere in Cupertino they are preparing a new entry-level MacBook Pro, also for 2027. And here, in the wearables segment, Apple is going to update the Apple Watch. There, in the laptop market, manufacturers are already discussing how to live after Apple's price increase.

Sources

1. Bloomberg
2. IDC
3. Counterpoint Research

Xrust iPad Mini returns to the game: Apple is preparing a “small flagship” with OLED and rebuilding the entire line of tablets