Leaks Suggest iPad Mini 8 to Get A20 Pro Chip in 2026

Apple's next-generation iPad mini may feature a more advanced processor than previously anticipated, according to recent leaks from internal code and development kits. The device, expected to launch in 2026, could incorporate the A20 Pro chip, which is slated for the iPhone 18 Pro models, rather than the A19 Pro chip rumored earlier.

The A20 Pro, codenamed "Borneo," would represent Apple's first use of TSMC's 2nm manufacturing process, promising a 10 to 15 percent increase in performance and a 20 to 30 percent reduction in power consumption compared to the 3nm A19 Pro. This chip is expected to include a six-core CPU, six-core GPU, and enhanced neural accelerators for improved artificial intelligence capabilities. Leaks from a macOS kernel debug kit, accidentally released and later removed from Apple's website earlier this year, point to codenames suggesting the A20 Pro integration, as reported by tipsters analyzed in tech publications. Separately, code from an iOS 26 pre-release build, shared by Chinese leaker Kang on Weibo, also references the A20 Pro for the iPad mini's internal designations, J510 and J511.

Uncertainty surrounds the exact launch timing, which could determine...