Paying More for the New iPad Mini 8 Could Be Hard to Swallow if Apple Skips the Screen Upgrade People Have Waited Years For

The upcoming iPad mini 8 is expected to get an OLED display, but Apple may stick with a 60Hz refresh rate, leaving one of the compact tablet’s most requested upgrades off the table.

The company has reportedly tested both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion panels for the new model, although its final choice remains unknown.

The detail raises questions about whether the iPad mini will finally get the smoother display technology already available on Apple’s more expensive devices.

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A 120Hz display would be a major upgrade for the iPad mini

The current iPad mini uses a 60Hz LCD panel, which refreshes the screen 60 times per second.

ProMotion doubles that maximum refresh rate to 120Hz, making scrolling through websites, navigating menus, and drawing with Apple Pencil feel noticeably smoother.

iPad Pro owners have enjoyed this feature for years, and it could make a particularly noticeable difference on a compact tablet used for reading and browsing.

But testing both display options doesn’t guarantee Apple will choose the faster one.

If the iPad mini 8 launches with a 60Hz OLED screen, buyers would still benefit from deeper blacks and improved contrast, but the overall smoothness of the interface would remain largely unchanged.

That could be disappointing, especially if the next-generation model costs more than its predecessor.

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Several other upgrades are already expected

Beyond the display, the iPad mini 8 is shaping up to be a substantial update.

Previously discovered code and product imagery point to several changes:

• A20 Pro chip: A faster processor that would replace the current model’s A17 Pro.
• OLED display: The first OLED panel in an iPad mini, offering improved contrast and deeper blacks.
• Landscape front camera: A repositioned camera better suited to video calls when holding the tablet horizontally.
• Redesigned speakers: An updated audio system.
• Water resistance: Additional protection that could make the tablet more durable during everyday use.

Apple is expected to announce the iPad mini 8 on October 27 or 28, alongside redesigned MacBook Pro models.

With the launch potentially just days away, the biggest remaining question is whether Apple will finally bring ProMotion to its smallest iPad or reserve the technology for more expensive models.