We already know when Apple will show its touchscreen MacBooks and the OLED iPad mini thanks to a leak from yesterday, and now the company itself seems to have confirmed that the tablet is coming. A new Smart Folio for the iPad Mini with the model number A3632 has appeared on Apple’s French regulatory website, and this number does not match any iPad Mini case that Apple has sold so far.
The list was recently added, alongside accessories for the iPhone 18 Pro that went up in September. The document is dated September 9, although it is unclear when it went live.
There are no specifications there, but there are some 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 indicate changes in the magnets that hold the cover to the tablet.
That’s important because the iPad mini (2021) and iPad mini (2024) share the same Smart Folio. A new model number for something as simple as a Folio suggests that 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 waterproof design, and it’s expected later this month. It should be announced on October 27 or 28 alongside the touchscreen MacBook.
Source (in French) | Via