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Twelve days before its expected release, the next iPad mini appears for the first time in an official Apple document, albeit indirectly. Apple lists a Smart Folio on its French environmental information page, which is not yet available for purchase. The figures in the document suggest a case that will no longer fit previous models.
MacRumors discovered the entry: Apple's French-compliant product information page lists a datasheet for a Smart Folio for the iPad mini with the model number A3632. This number does not correspond to any previous iPad mini case. The document is dated September 9, 2026; however, it does not indicate when Apple made it available online.
This discovery joins a series of clues. At the end of September, Apple's own code revealed the A20 Pro chip and a front-facing camera on the long side of the next iPad mini; now, Apple is said to have invited media to Los Angeles on October 28th. The new data sheet adds a detail to the previously known picture of the iPad mini 8 that directly affects buyers of accessories.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Apple lists a Smart Folio for the iPad mini on its French environmental information page, model number A3632, which does not belong to any previous case.
- The data sheet bears the date September 9, 2026, the day of the introduction of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo.
- According to the document, the new cover contains at least 6,610 milligrams of rare earth elements, roughly two-thirds more than the 6th generation Smart Folio.
- According to Apple, the current Smart Folio fits the iPad mini (A17 Pro) and the 6th generation. A new model number suggests that this compatibility ends with the successor.
Why the document is in France
The fact that an unpublished accessory has appeared on a French website has a legal reason. Decree No. 2022-748 requires manufacturers in France to inform consumers about the environmental characteristics of their products. This includes, among other things, the percentage of recycled materials and the amount of precious metals and rare earth elements.
Apple publishes this information as separate datasheets for each product. Because they include the model number and issue date, they occasionally reveal accessories before Apple officially introduces them.
More rare earth elements, less recycled content
According to the data sheet, the new Smart Folio contains at least 3 percent recycled materials. The Smart Folio for the 6th generation iPad mini, according to its data sheet dated December 23, 2022, contained at least 9 percent recycled materials.
| Info | Smart Folio iPad mini (6th generation) | Smart Folio A3632 |
|---|---|---|
| Date of the data sheet | December 23, 2022 | September 9, 2026 |
| Recycled materials | at least 9 % | at least 3 % |
| Rare earth elements | at least 3,947 mg | at least 6,610 mg |
| Percentage of recycled rare earth elements | 100 % | not specified |
The new cover contains 2,663 milligrams more rare earth elements, an increase of approximately 67 percent. Apple states that the old Smart Folio contains these rare earth elements entirely from recycled materials, but this information is missing from the new one. In a cover without electronics, these materials are likely primarily found in the magnets that attach the Smart Folio to the iPad and wake or turn off the screen when the cover is opened and closed. A higher concentration of magnets suggests a different arrangement or stronger adhesion. The document does not reveal the cover's design.
New model number, new fit
The current Smart Folio has been available since 2024. According to the technical specifications in Apple Support, it fits the iPad mini (A17 Pro) and the 6th generation iPad mini. Both devices therefore share one case.
A separate model number for a new Smart Folio suggests that this similarity will end with the next model. One reason could be the front camera, which, according to the code found, is expected to move to the long side; another could be a redesigned casing. According to Bloomberg, Apple is also planning a more water-resistant design for the iPad mini with OLED display.
Only buy cases after October 28th
I consider the new model number the most reliable indicator in the document, more reliable than the material specifications. Apple wouldn't have needed a separate number for just a new color, as demonstrated by the shared casing of the last two generations. I expect that existing Smart Folios and third-party cases for the iPad mini (A17 Pro) won't fit the successor properly.
If you're planning to buy the new iPad mini, there's no need to buy a case in advance. Those currently using the latest model aren't affected: their existing case will still fit. For information on how the iPad mini compares to other iPads, see ouriPad buying guide; all previous articles about its successor are compiled on the iPad mini 8 page.
The accessories are ready, but the device has not yet been presented
There are 49 days between the date on the data sheet and the expected media event on October 28th. The document is dated the day Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo – meaning the accessories for the iPad mini were already listed at that time. October 28th will reveal whether the new case is indeed for the iPad mini with OLED display.
Do you use your iPad mini with Apple's Smart Folio – or is a case from another manufacturer the better choice for you anyway, since you have to buy a new one every time you change devices? Tell us in the comments what you use to protect your iPad mini.
