Pecohub MINI has confirmed that it has no plans to abandon its distinctive circular infotainment screen, despite concerns about its practicality and ease of use.
Alexander Brockhoff, General Manager of MINI Australia, said the round display remains an important part of the brand’s identity and heritage. In an interview with Australian publication Drive, he explained that the company intends to preserve the design while continuing to improve the technology behind it.
The latest MINI models feature a 9.4-inch circular OLED touchscreen that handles navigation, entertainment, vehicle settings and several other functions.
However, the design comes with limitations. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are built primarily for rectangular displays, appear in smaller rectangular windows within the circular screen. This leaves portions of the display unused and can make navigation less convenient.
MINI’s native navigation system, by comparison, is designed to use the entire circular display.
The screen also replaces several traditional physical controls, including dedicated climate-control buttons, requiring drivers to operate many functions through the touchscreen.
Brockhoff acknowledged that technology would continue to evolve, suggesting that improvements could make the system’s integrations more effective. However, MINI has not announced specific upgrades or a timeline for them.
The circular design traces its roots to the original 1959 Mini, which featured a centrally mounted round speedometer. The modern 9.4-inch OLED version was introduced in 2023 and has since become a defining feature across the brand’s latest lineup.
