Apple's first waterproof iPad is scheduled for release in the second half of 2026.
Apple's next iPad mini is expected to be the first iPad to feature a waterproof design, and is anticipated to be released around October 2026.
Apple's First Water-Resistant iPad to Launch Later This Year - MacRumors
In 2025, Mark Gurman, a journalist well-known for leaking Apple-related information, reported that 'Apple is developing an improved case with the same level of protection as the iPhone, which will make the iPad mini safer to use in wet environments such as bathrooms and poolside.'
Apple Plans OLED for iPad Mini, iPad Air, MacBook Air; Mini Water Resistance - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-28/apple-plans-oled-for-ipad-mini-ipad-air-macbook-air-mini-water-resistance
As of the time of writing, no iPads have received official water resistance ratings, and Apple does not believe that existing models are safe when exposed to water.
To achieve the same level of water resistance as the iPhone, Apple has reportedly designed a vibration-based speaker system that eliminates the need for traditional speaker holes. Sound is emitted from the flat surface of the iPad's casing, with part of the body also functioning as the speaker's diaphragm. This eliminates the speaker holes, which are the main entry point for water and dust into the device.
In contrast, Apple's iPhone enhances its water resistance by sealing speaker openings and other potential entry points with adhesive and gaskets. It is unclear what IP protection rating the waterproof iPad mini will have. The iPhone, for example, has an IP68 rating, meaning it can be submerged in water up to 6 meters deep for 30 minutes.
Apple has long been working on developing vibration-based speaker technology. A patent Apple obtained in 2014 describes a 'mechanically operated panel acoustic system' that generates sound by vibrating a flat panel. This eliminates the need for a speaker grille altogether.
Technology media outlet MacRumors points out that 'devices like the Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Libra Color are said to be water-resistant, and the ability to read in the bath or by the pool has long been recognized as one of the practical advantages of Apple's smallest tablets,' suggesting that if the iPad mini becomes waterproof, it could bridge the gap with these devices.
Reporter Gurman predicts that Apple will release a waterproof iPad mini by October 2026. Korean media outlet ETNews reports that Samsung Display has begun mass production of OLED panels for the iPad mini, which supports the idea that the waterproof iPad will be released around October 2026.
In addition, it has been suggested that the new iPad mini will switch from an LCD display to an OLED display and may be equipped with the same A19 Pro chip as the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The A19 Pro in the iPhone 17 Pro significantly outperforms the Pixel 10 Pro XL, recording performance that rivals the Galaxy S25 Ultra for the title of fastest smartphone - GIGAZINE
Related Posts:
in Hardware, Posted by logu_ii