Apple has unveiled the new iPad mini with a larger OLED display, a faster A20 Pro chip, and a thinner design. The latest compact tablet also features improved graphics, upgraded cameras, better speakers, and water and dust resistance. With these changes, Apple aims to make the iPad mini more useful for gaming, entertainment, creative work, and everyday tasks.
The new model features an 8.5-inch OLED display, up from the previous generation’s smaller screen, while maintaining a similar overall footprint. It also introduces Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and new AI capabilities through iPadOS 27.
New iPad mini Features an 8.5-Inch OLED Display
The new iPad mini measures 5.4mm thick, making it thinner than its predecessor. Apple will offer it in midnight and starlight finishes, with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options.
Its Super Retina XDR OLED display delivers deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Apple claims peak brightness reaches 1,200 nits, more than twice the peak brightness of the previous generation. The display also supports up to 600 nits of full-screen brightness and can reduce brightness to just one nit for comfortable reading in dark environments.
Apple is also offering an optional nano-texture display designed to reduce glare in bright surroundings. The tablet has an IP67 rating for dust and water protection, adding durability for everyday use.
A20 Pro Chip Brings Faster Performance
The A20 Pro chip powers the new iPad mini, delivering improvements in CPU, graphics, and AI performance. Built using a 2nm manufacturing process, the chip features a CPU with up to six cores and a seven-core GPU.
According to Apple, the new model delivers up to 60% faster multithreaded CPU performance and up to 2.7 times the graphics performance of the previous generation. Hardware-accelerated ray tracing, mesh shading, and dynamic caching also help improve graphics processing for supported games and creative applications.
AI performance receives a major boost as well. Apple claims the A20 Pro delivers up to 4.5 times faster AI performance than the previous model, thanks in part to Neural Accelerators built into each GPU core.
The 512GB version includes a Dual 16-core Neural Engine for more demanding on-device AI tasks. These improvements could make the tablet better suited to photo editing, gaming, and applications that use local AI models.
Improved Cameras, Audio, and Connectivity
The new iPad mini includes a 12MP Center Stage front camera positioned along the landscape edge, making video calls and online meetings more convenient. Its rear 12MP camera supports Smart HDR 4 and 4K video recording at up to 60 frames per second. An Adaptive True Tone flash also improves photography and document scanning.
Apple has redesigned the tablet’s audio system with an Acoustic Display. Specially designed woofers deliver stronger bass and higher volume, while hidden tweeters help improve high-frequency sound. The sealed design also contributes to its IP67 protection.
For connectivity, Apple’s N1 wireless chip adds Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support. Cellular versions use the C2 modem, which Apple says offers up to 50% faster cellular data speeds than the previous generation. eSIM support also allows users to add or transfer compatible mobile plans digitally.
iPadOS 27 Adds New Apple Intelligence Features
The new iPad mini runs iPadOS 27, bringing a new version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Siri AI is designed to understand personal context, recognise information on the screen, and help users complete tasks or find relevant information.
Apple Intelligence also offers updated photo editing tools, including Clean Up, Spatial Reframing, and Extend. The Image Playground app can create photorealistic images, while Safari’s Notify Me feature can alert users to changes on supported web pages, such as product restocks and price updates.
Apple says its AI features use on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute to help protect personal information.
The tablet also supports extended display mode with iPadOS 27.2 when connected to an external monitor. For creative work and note-taking, users can choose between Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C.
New iPad mini Price and Availability
Apple will open pre-orders for the new iPad mini on October 28, 2026, with availability starting November 6 in supported markets.
The US prices are as follows:
- Wi-Fi model: $699
- Wi-Fi + Cellular model: $849
- Smart Folio: $79
- Apple Pencil Pro: $129
- Apple Pencil USB-C: $79
The new tablet will be available in midnight and starlight finishes, with three storage configurations: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. Eligible education customers can purchase the Wi-Fi model starting at $649.
Apple also says the new iPad mini contains 35% recycled material overall, including recycled aluminium in the enclosure and recycled cobalt in the battery.
With its OLED display, faster A20 Pro chip, improved cameras, and new AI features, the new iPad mini offers a significant hardware upgrade. Its $699 starting price is higher than many compact tablets, but the combination of portability and performance could appeal to users who want a powerful device in a smaller size.
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