For years, iPhones have had various levels of water resistance. However, if you’ve previously submerged your iPad in water, you’ll know that Apple’s tablets, however, are not water-resistant.
That will soon change.
Apple’s first water-resistant iPad is currently planned to launch by the end of this year, according to a new report. The water-resistant model is expected to be the new, redesigned iPad mini.
The report says that Apple’s approach to water resistance in the iPad differs from the iPhone. According to the report, Apple designed a “vibration-based speaker system,” where sound transmits from the surface of the tablet’s chassis. This means that the new iPad mini will not need physical speaker holes, which will greatly limit points of entry for water, dust, and other unwanted particles.
MacRumors points out that Apple described such a technology in a 2014 patent, which means the company has been working on this for some time.
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The new iPad mini’s IP rating, which measures a device’s resistance to dust and liquids like water, is currently unknown. The iPhone 17 has an IP68 rating, which means it could be submerged in a maximum depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes.
The iPad mini line last had a refresh when it received the A17 Pro chipset in 2024. However, other than that, the device remained the same. The iPad mini was last redesigned in 2021.
Bloomberg‘s Apple insider Mark Gurman has previously reported that the iPad mini was set to get some big upgrades, including an OLED display, which would be a first for the device.
A release before this summer’s beach trips and pool parties would’ve certainly been ideal. But you could always start planning for next summer. The new iPad mini is expected to launch by October.
Apple currently sells the base model iPad mini for $599 after the company hiked prices across its products earlier this year. However, according to Gurman, the addition of an OLED display could result in even higher prices for the new iPad mini.
