Apple is reportedly working on a new small-sized tablet — tentatively called iPad mini Pro — that will come equipped with an upgraded screen offering a 120Hz refresh rate. Apple launched the 6th Gen iPad mini just over one month ago, introducing a new design language for its palm-sized tablet along with a 5G upgrade. The tiny Apple tablet was warmly received, thanks to the blazing-fast processor, cellular connectivity improvements, and overall value for money.
Starting at $499, the iPad mini 6 comes equipped with Apple’s A15 Bionic processor, the same SoC that's also at the heart of the iPhone 13 series. However, the tablet launch was not without its problems. Some iPad mini users reported seeing a weird jelly-scrolling effect on the screen that made lines of text appear wavy when used in portrait orientation. Apple later clarified that it is normal for LCD panels, essentially telling users that they have to live with it.
It appears that Apple might already be working on a new version that will bring in a major display upgrade. Leaker @FrontTron tweeted details about a new iPad mini model with the information sourced from South Korea’s Clien forum. According to the rumor, Apple is sourcing an 8.3-inch display from Samsung, the same size as the LCD screen on the current-gen iPad mini. The key upgrade, however, is the screen refresh rate. The panel is going to offer a 120Hz refresh rate, up from 60Hz on the iPad mini 6.
Sketchy Rumor, But Sounds Promising
The rumor suggests that the upcoming iPad mini model will bring Apple’s ProMotion tech to the table. Apple first introduced ProMotion with the iPad Pro line before then expanding it to the iPhone 13 Pro models. The tech eventually made its way to the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, both of which make the jump to mini-LED and can change the screen refresh rate value between 24Hz and 120Hz. A key advantage of ProMotion on small devices is that it saves some battery juice, aside from offering a smooth scrolling experience. Adding ProMotion could also fix the jelly-scrolling problem that many iPad mini users have reported seeing.
The latest leak adds that the 120Hz iPad mini will also pack 128GB of onboard stage and is currently being tested with an A15 Bionic chip running at a slightly higher clock speed. The upgrade to a 120Hz panel is said to bump up the price slightly, but the upcoming device will still fall in the ‘affordable’ segment. While the details are said to emerge from sources in Taiwan, this might be one of those Apple rumors that should be taken with a heavy dose of skepticism.
Sources: FrontTron/Twitter, Clien