It sure looks like the iPad Mini has a ‘jelly scrolling’ problem

By Michael Allison Published February 1, 2022

The new iPad Mini has been a critical hit alongside Apple’s iPhone 13 series. However, it’s also picked up a frustrating issue for a few buyers — “jelly scrolling”. Spotted by iPad Mini buyers over the past weekend and tagged #jellygate by some, the problem with the iPad Mini’s display has become a sudden Achilles’ heel for the long-awaited tablet.

https://twitter.com/backlon/status/1440678843589689346?

Recommended Videos

Jelly scrolling is an issue that recurs on displays for a number of reasons. In essence, it occurs when the contents on one side of a screen scroll slightly faster than the other due to the screen refreshing faster on that side. This then causes display elements on the other side to lag. The end result? The content displayed appears to wobble like jelly — hence the name.

While the problems we encountered are not as dramatic as in the new video (above), which is shot in slow motion, Digital Trends can confirm the issue exists on an in-house iPad Mini. It’s present in both landscape and portrait modes, though it varies depending on the current app. We’ll go more in-depth with the display when we do a full review, but it’s an issue that does exist. Apple’s generally good customer support (and strong consumer protections in some countries) mean that you can return an iPad Mini 6 if the display issue turns out to be a deal breaker for you.

It’s not clear why this is happening on the new Mini. Whether this is something that’s due to hardware or software is something only Apple can answer. Apple’s iPad Mini isn’t the first tablet to suffer from it, and other devices, including the OnePlus 5, the Galaxy Tab S6, and more, have had run-ins with the infamous jelly scroll.

Other than that, the new iPad Mini has its advantages. It’s a smaller tablet than the iPad Air and iPad Pro, and it has a more modern design than the iPad with its USB-C port, thin bezels, and button-mounted fingerprint sensor. It’s a nice little device that can serve as a tablet primarily focused on content consumption. Despite its positive critical reception, though, it’s unclear if it’ll be as popular as either its bigger or cheaper siblings.

Topics

Michael Allison

Former Digital Trends Contributor

A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…

Mobile

New iPad mini leak should make you think twice before buying one right now

Reading comics on Apple iPad mini with A17 Pro.

Rumors of an OLED iPad mini started popping up last year and according to a new leak from Digital Chat Station, the company is currently testing a Samsung-made panel for the new model.

Spotted by MacRumors, the Weibo-based leaker says Apple is evaluating an 8-inch OLED panel from Samsung, but they don't know what the refresh rate is yet. The LCD display on the iPad mini 7 is 60Hz but it could make sense to expect something higher this time around. The leaker, along with other sources, expects the iPad mini to launch in 2026.

Mobile

iPad Pro with next-gen M5 silicon could arrive later this year

Magic Keyboard and iPad Pro.

It seems tablets are increasingly becoming the unofficial launch testbed for Apple’s next-gen silicon. The 2024 iPad Pro marked the debut of Apple’s M4 chip, ahead of its appearance inside the Mac hardware.
Carrying forward the torch, the next iPad Pro refresh could be “one of the first devices” to get a M5 series processor. According to Bloomberg, the next-gen iPad Pro has progressed into the advanced stages of internal testing. Moreover, it is expected to hit the shelves later this year, likely in the Fall season.
Apple gave the M4 series refresh to the Mac lineup, including the MacBook Air, Pro, and Studio models, earlier this year. The M4 Pro and M4 Max processors were only introduced late last year, so it seems increasingly plausible that the baseline M5 would arrive later this year, followed by its Pro, Max, or Ultra variants.
Given the “freshness” status of the current Mac hardware, the upcoming iPad Pro seems like the first candidate to get a taste of the next-gen M5 processor. “The new versions of that model, code-named J817, J818, J820 and J821, are in late testing within Apple and on track for production in the second half of this year,” adds the report.
What to expect from M5 iPad Pro?

Starting with the design , Apple is not expected to make any notable changes, given the company’s history. The iPad Pro got a major design overhaul in 2024, embracing a super-sleek look, one fewer camera, and a new keyboard accessory to go with it.
As far as the silicon goes, the M5 series will reportedly be based on the 3nm process and built atop ARM’s next-gen CPU architecture. In addition to the 2025 iPad Pro, Apple is also expected to launch new MacBook Pro models later this year, armed with an M5-tier processor.

Mobile

The iPad doesn’t need AI, but Apple must fix something else

Top view of the rear shell on the 11th Gen iPad.

I just finished testing the new entry-level iPad, and so far, I am fairly impressed by the tablet. You can’t get a better value than this slate for $349. From the external hardware to the innards, there is hardly any alternative from the Android side that can deliver a superior experience.
This year, Apple delivered a couple of surprises, in addition to the expected chip upgrade. You now get twice the storage for the same ask, and the RAM has also been bumped up. In a nutshell, it’s faster, better at multi-tasking, and without any storage headaches, even if your budget is tight.
Apple, however, hasn’t fixed the software situation with iPadOS, which continues to bother with its fair share of quirks in tow. This year, however, the software gulf is even wider between the baseline iPad and every other tablet in Apple’s portfolio. Stage Manager has been the big differentiator so far, but in 2025, we have another deep chasm.

A good riddance with AI

	
		OSZAR »