Apple’s iPhones have lengthy boasted spectacular water-resistance capabilities. Each handset since 2018’s XS technology has been IP68 rated, the very best you’ll see on a client product, and particularly credited with the power to outlive submersion in a minimum of 2m of water (or extra, in later generations) for as much as half-hour. Most of us nonetheless dread the concept of dropping our iPhone within the bathtub or the bathroom, however the actuality is that it might most likely be positive.
The iPad, nevertheless, is a distinct matter solely. For no matter motive, Apple doesn’t publish water-resistance specs for any of its iPads. This doesn’t essentially imply you may’t get them moist, nevertheless it most likely means Apple doesn’t suppose they’d do very nicely, which is a fear for holidaymakers who prefer to learn eBooks by the swimming pool.
This might be set to alter. A new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, which focuses principally on upcoming OLED display screen upgrades, briefly alludes to a different change: the iPad mini is getting a redesigned case that’s higher in a position to stand up to liquid intrusions.
The attention-grabbing half is that Apple isn’t merely copying what it does on the iPhone and utilizing that on the bigger machine. As a substitute, the corporate is engaged on an entire new vibration-based speaker system, which might allow it to do away with the speaker holes that are such a weak spot for water entry. “That’s a distinct method than the iPhone’s waterproof design,” Gurman explains, “which retains holes however provides gaskets and adhesives to stop harm.”
At this stage, the concept stays fairly imprecise, each on when this mini may arrive and the way efficient the water resistance will likely be—there’s no phrase on what IP score this might lead to, or whether or not Apple would select to publicize a function that would seem to present the iPad mini a promoting level over its largely costlier siblings. The Seventh-gen iPad mini got here out in fall 2024, and primarily based on previous conduct (a 30-month hole between the fifth and sixth iPad minis; a three-year hole between the sixth and Seventh), it might be a protracted await the following mannequin, apparently code-named J510. That’s assuming Apple even completes the challenge in time for the following mini, and as Gurman factors out, it may but change its thoughts and transfer in a distinct route.
One element Gurman is ready to touch upon is the value of the upgraded mini: it may price as a lot as $100 greater than the present mannequin, he says, which suggests as much as $599. That value bump is especially brought on by the OLED display screen, however having a little bit of water resistance for the primary time could assist justify the fee for those who’re planning to take the pill with you on vacation.
