IPad mini showing ‘your software up to date’ on iOS 9.3.5

No.

Different older iPads have ended support at different iOS versions, based on age/capabilities of their internal hardware.

2010 iPad ended at iOS 5.1.1.

20111 iPad 2, 2012 iPad 3 and 1st gen iPad Mini ended at iOS 9.3.5/9.3.6.

Late 2012 iPad 4th gen ended at iOS 10.3.3/10.3.4.

2013 iPad Air 1, iPad MIni 2, 2014 iPad Mini 3 ended at whatever current version of iOS 12.

Anything newer can run the latest iPadOS, currently at iPadOS 14.6.

Your iPad is too old for any more iOS upgrades/updates.

Your iPad model is, at least, 9-years old, now.

Simply put, your iPad year and model is too old and obsolete, now.

Sorry, but this is the reality for ALL 8-10-year old AND OLDER iOS devices now. Especially now in 2021!

If you need/want an iPad with an up to date iPadOS with access to current, updated apps, then you really need to seriously consider a purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted Apple product/device retailers/resellers, some locally or from online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.

There are PLENTY of less expensive, newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.

If you need to purchase older, less expensive iPad models, look at older IPads from 2014 and later.

All of these older model iPads CAN run the latest iPadOS versions and the up and coming iPadOS 15.

2014, 9,7 inch screen iPad Air 2 models

2015, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 4 models

2015-2017, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2016, 9.7 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2017, 9.7 inch screen iPad 5th gen models

2018, 9.7 inch screen iPad 6th gen models (1st gen Pencil support )

2019, 10.2 inch screen iPad 7th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )

Get the largest internal data storage model you can afford as NO Apple iOS device has expandable storage.

I am sorry that you had to learn all of this, but this does not change any of the facts regarding these very old iOS devices.

Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

An iPad MINI is different from an iPad standard.

See this list to better understand (check your Axxxx model code on the back cover):

Hi,

If your iPad mini is older than an iPad mini 4, it can’t get the newest updates. Sorry about that.

Sorry no.

Your iPad 2nd generation (firstly released in 2011) cannot support iOS versions beyond the one currently running on it, because of hardware (CPU/RAM) incompatibility.

Regards

Giulio

Two things:

Your iPad 2nd generation is not a MINI model or, if it is a MINI model, it's a 1st generation.