Apple may have just leaked a new iPad mini accessory ahead of launch

Breaking News Apple may have offered another clue that its next iPad mini is getting close, with a previously unseen Smart Folio appearing in the company’s own regulatory database ahead of the tablet’s rumored late-October launch.

As spotted by 9to5Mac, Apple’s regulatory website lists a Smart Folio for iPad mini carrying the model number A3632, which does not correspond to any currently available Apple accessory.

The regulatory document is dated September 8, 2026. While the listing does not name an unreleased iPad mini directly, the new model number is notable because Apple’s current sixth- and seventh-generation iPad mini models use the same Smart Folio.

That raises the possibility that Apple is preparing a revised case specifically for the next iPad mini, potentially because of physical changes to the tablet itself. The upcoming iPad mini is already expected to receive one of its biggest upgrades in years, with an OLED display, a new processor and several design changes all reportedly planned.

Apple’s filing also shows differences in the materials used in the new Smart Folio. According to the regulatory data, the unreleased accessory contains at least 6,610 milligrams of rare earth elements, compared with 3,947 milligrams in the previous version. That could point to changes in the magnets used to attach the Folio to the iPad, although the filing does not confirm the reason for the increase.

The new accessory is also listed as containing at least 3% recycled materials, compared with a minimum of 9% for the existing Smart Folio. Those figures do not reveal the Folio’s appearance or dimensions, but they reinforce that A3632 is not simply the same accessory under a new listing.

A redesigned case would fit with the hardware changes already rumored for the next iPad mini. Apple is reportedly moving the front-facing camera to the landscape edge and redesigning the speaker system, while improved water resistance and thinner bezels have also been reported.

The new model is also expected to switch from LCD to OLED. The Apple Post previously reported that the OLED iPad mini could arrive before the end of October, with more recent reporting pointing to Apple’s A20 Pro chip as the likely processor. That would give the compact tablet a current-generation Pro-class chip alongside its larger display upgrade.

Pricing may also move higher. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has said the redesigned iPad mini could become considerably more expensive, with pricing potentially approaching $799 in the United States. That would reposition the iPad mini as a much more premium compact tablet than the current model.

The timing of the Smart Folio listing is particularly interesting because Apple is now inviting selected media to an all-day product launch experience in Los Angeles on October 28. The event is expected to include the new iPad mini alongside touchscreen MacBooks and M6 Macs.

Apple has not announced the next iPad mini or a new Smart Folio, so compatibility and final accessory details remain unconfirmed. But with a new case model now appearing in Apple’s own regulatory records, the evidence around an imminent iPad mini refresh is continuing to build.