Apple’s 2026 iPad mini could boast a more water-resistant design, thanks to a new speaker system designed by the Cupertino device maker, reports Bloomberg. This could make the iPad mini’s water resistance more like the iPhone.
Apple has created a new speaker system that uses vibration-based technology, removing the need for speaker holes in devices. Removing the speaker holes would reduce the areas where water could possibly get into the iPad mini. The current iPhone mini doesn’t have an official water resistance rating, making it unsafe to use in situations where the tablet could get wet.
While the new system should provide water resistance similar to that enjoyed by the iPhone, the approach is different. In the iPhone, Apple uses gaskets and adhesive to protect the speaker holes and keep water out.
The current iPhone lineup has an IP68 water resistance rating, meaning it can be submersed in up to six meters of water for up 30 minutes. It hasn’t been determined what IP rating the iPad mini might have with the new speakers.
In addition to new speaker technology, the iPad mini will be the recipient of an OLED display as soon as 2026. The iPad mini last received a refresh in 2024, when the 7th-generation model was released.
