What's dropping
Looks like Apple isn't done playing with our wallets yet this year. Following the release of the iPhone 18 Pro and the folding iPhone Duo, a fresh round of leaks discovered in Apple’s own code by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris has surfaced, and it's giving us a glimpse of what's next. We are talking about a new HomePod mini, a beefed-up iPad mini 8, and a 4th-generation Apple TV 4K.
iPad mini 8
The most exciting update here is the iPad mini 8. It’s expected to ditch the current A17 Pro chip for the absolute beast that is the A20 Pro—the same one powering the new iPhone 18 series. Beyond the internal speed boost, the FaceTime camera has been moved to the landscape edge, which is a total W for anyone who actually uses their tablet for work calls. Plus, rumor has it we might see an OLED display and potential waterproofing tech.
HomePod mini 2
If you're a fan of keeping your space aesthetic, the next HomePod mini is leaning into the 'quiet luxury' vibes. While the hardware design stays pretty much the same as the 2020 original, the color palette is shifting from those bright, neon-adjacent shades to more subdued, neutral tones like black, white, blue, pink, and green.
Apple TV 4K
It’s been four years since the last Apple TV update, so the 4th-gen model is long overdue. While the outside looks basically identical to the one you already have, under the hood, we are likely looking at the A17 Pro chip and Apple’s custom N1 Bluetooth/Wi-Fi chip.
Why it matters
Real talk: Apple is standardizing its silicon across the board. By dropping the A20 Pro into the iPad mini, they’re making sure even the smaller devices have main character energy performance-wise. These updates aren't reinventing the wheel, but for anyone rocking a four-year-old streaming box or a lagging tablet, the plot thickens for your next upgrade.
