Apple's own website now hints at a new iPad mini

We already know when Apple will show off its touchscreen MacBooks and the OLED iPad mini thanks to a leak from yesterday, and now the company itself seems to have confirmed the tablet is coming. A new Smart Folio for the iPad mini with the model number A3632 has shown up on Apple's French regulatory website, and that number doesn't match any iPad mini case Apple has sold so far.

The listing was added recently, alongside accessories for the iPhone 18 Pro that went up in September. The document is dated September 9, although it's unclear exactly when it went live.

There are no specs in there, but there are a few interesting numbers. The new Smart Folio contains at least 3% recycled materials, down from at least 9% in the current model. It also has at least 6,610mg of rare earth elements, up from 3,947mg, which could point to changes in the magnets that hold the cover to the tablet.

That matters because the iPad mini (2021) and the iPad mini (2024) share the same Smart Folio. A new model number for something as simple as a folio suggests the next iPad mini will have physical changes that make current cases incompatible, though that's just speculation on our part.

The rumor mill says the next iPad mini will bring an OLED screen and a more water-resistant design, and it's expected later this month. It should be announced on October 27 or 28 alongside the touchscreen MacBook.