Multiple Chinese OEMs reportedly polishing “mini” tablets as market reheats

Summary

It has been reported that Apple (苹果), Huawei (华为), Xiaomi’s REDMI (小米 REDMI), OPPO (OPPO), OnePlus (一加), vivo (vivo), iQOO (iQOO), Lenovo (联想) and RedMagic (红魔) are working on small‑format tablets, according to a post by Weibo leaker @数码闲聊站 and reported by IT之家. The tipster says manufacturers are “fine‑tuning” product details rather than rushing brand‑new categories — think new displays, colors and iterative hardware updates rather than wholesale reinvention.

What the leaks say

Reportedly, Lenovo has an 8.8‑inch LCD model about to ship and is also developing an OLED variant; Huawei’s immediate activity appears limited to fresh colorways while other brands are planning larger upgrades. When asked whether Apple’s changes would amount to a simple chip swap, the leaker replied only that an OLED change was known — “you guess whether it’s a 60Hz OLED.” A question about a OnePlus 7.9‑inch model drew a reply that no 7.9‑inch phone or tablet was known, only the 8.8‑inch small tablet variant.

Why it matters

Why the renewed interest in mini tablets? Smaller tablets sit between smartphones and full‑size iPads and have been one of the few segments showing steady consumer appetite for portability without sacrificing screen real estate. For Western readers: China’s supply chains and component sourcing—panels, SoCs and modem chips—are shaped by global trade policy and export controls. It has been reported that ongoing U.S. export controls on advanced chips complicate access for some Chinese firms, making choices of display suppliers and processors a critical part of product differentiation.

The near term

Expect announcements and more concrete specs soon: Lenovo’s gaming‑focused Legion Y700 (拯救者 Y700) lineup is due to launch on March 18 with a “fifth‑generation Snapdragon 8 Supreme” processor, underscoring how vendors are pairing high‑end silicon with varied form factors to stand out. For consumers and competitors alike, the key things to watch will be display tech (OLED vs LCD), refresh rates, battery life and whether any of these small tablets lean into gaming, stylus support or 5G connectivity.