Apple Code Reveals New iPad Mini, HomePod Mini, and Apple TV Hardware
Apple is preparing to release an updated iPad mini 8, HomePod mini 2, and Apple TV 4K before the end of the year.
Fresh software assets from Apple point to an imminent refresh for the iPad mini, HomePod mini, and Apple TV streaming box. Discovered inside company code by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris and reported by The Verge, the upcoming devices are slated to arrive before the year concludes.
The findings arrive shortly after the company introduced both the iPhone 18 Pro family and the foldable iPhone Duo. Rather than introducing drastic exterior overhauls, the leaked data indicates modest design tweaks paired with internal silicon upgrades across the lineup.
Hardware Changes Across the Compact Lineup
The compact tablet, dubbed the iPad mini 8, will succeed the seventh-generation model that debuted two years back. Leaked images show that Apple shifted the FaceTime camera to the tablet's landscape border. An indentation along the upper display bezel suggests the addition of an extra speaker.
Internally, the compact tablet jumps from an A17 Pro processor to the newly unveiled A20 Pro chipset, bringing it in line with the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Duo. Earlier reporting from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also linked this model to an OLED panel similar to the iPad Pro line, alongside enhanced water resistance enabled by a vibration-driven speaker setup.
Smart Home and Streaming Upgrades
The smart speaker lineup is also due for a refresh, with images showcasing the second-generation HomePod mini. First introduced toward the end of 2020, the small speaker will retain its familiar spherical footprint. However, Apple appears to be trading its existing bright blue, yellow, and orange finishes for a more muted palette consisting of:
- Black
- White
- Subdued blue
- Pink
- Green
Lastly, code references point to a fourth-generation Apple TV 4K. The current media box has remained unchanged for nearly four years. While the leaked graphics suggest an external look practically identical to the current box, hardware internals are slated to shift.
Earlier findings by Perris pointed toward Apple placing an A17 Pro chip inside the television unit. A 2024 report by Gurman also stated that the set-top box would adopt Apple's proprietary N1 component handling both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
