On 26 October Apple refreshed the iPad mini. The company’s most compact tablet gets an OLED screen for the first time, the A20 Pro chip from the iPhone 18 Pro and IP67 dust and water resistance. The price has gone up noticeably too: the base model now costs $699 in the US. Pre-orders open on 28 October and sales start on 6 November.
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Display: OLED and a slightly bigger screen
The biggest change is the display. The 8.3-inch LCD gives way to an 8.5-inch OLED panel. The body has barely grown: the bezels are 24% thinner, so there is more usable screen area. According to Engadget, peak brightness reaches 1,200 nits, roughly double the 2024 model. Across the whole screen the tablet holds 600 nits in both SDR and HDR, and minimum brightness drops to 1 nit, which is handy for reading in the dark. Apple quotes a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1.
The 256GB and 512GB models offer an optional nano-texture matte glass. It is a separate extra, $100 on top. Apple has not yet stated the screen’s refresh rate, as PhoneArena pointed out.
A20 Pro, IP67 and a screen that plays music
Inside is the A20 Pro, a 2nm chip with a CPU of up to 6 cores and a 7-core GPU. Compared with the A17 Pro in the previous iPad mini, Apple promises a CPU up to 60% faster, graphics 2.7 times faster and AI tasks 4.5 times faster. One curious detail: the full 32-core Neural Engine is reserved for the 512GB model only.
The second novelty for the iPad line is durability. The iPad mini is the first Apple tablet with IP67 certification, so it can survive dust and brief immersion in water. The key is what Apple calls the Acoustic Display: the low-frequency speakers work through the screen itself, while the tweeters are hidden between the glass and the aluminium body. As a result, the casing has no speaker holes.
The tablet is also thinner: about 5.4 mm against 6.3 mm for its predecessor, a 14% reduction. Apple says weight is down 13%, but has not given the exact figure in grams.
Cameras, connectivity and styluses
The 12MP front camera with Center Stage has moved to the long edge, so the tablet is comfortable to hold in landscape during video calls. The main camera is also 12MP, shoots 4K at 60 frames per second and gains an adaptive True Tone flash.
Wireless connectivity is handled by Apple’s own N1 chip: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. Cellular models use the C2 modem, which Apple says is up to 50% faster than the one in the previous iPad mini, and support eSIM. The Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil Pro are both compatible.
According to Apple, the battery charges to 50% in about 30 minutes. Fast charging needs a 35W adapter, which is not included in the box, MacRumors notes. Apple has not given battery life in hours and sticks to the phrase “all day”.
Prices and dates
There are two colours: Midnight and Starlight. US prices look like this:
- 128GB, Wi-Fi: $699;
- 128GB, Wi-Fi and cellular: $849;
- 256GB, Wi-Fi: $799;
- 512GB, Wi-Fi: $999.
For comparison, the iPad mini with the A17 Pro launched in 2024 at $499 and rose to $599 this year. The new model’s base price is $200 above the original price of the last one. Apple also sells a Smart Folio cover in TechWoven fabric, in blue and a grey-brown shade, for $79.
The tablet ships with iPadOS 27. The iPadOS 27.2 update will bring a beta of AI-powered Siri, though the feature will not work in EU countries for now. The same update promises an expanded external display mode.
That is not the end of Apple’s news this week. According to MacRumors, an iMac and a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 are expected, along with a MacBook Pro with a touch OLED screen. On Wednesday 28 October, an event for journalists and bloggers takes place in Los Angeles. It starts at 10:00 Pacific time, which is 17:00 in the UK.
What this means for buyers
The iPad mini is finally no longer a tablet with last generation’s screen. OLED, brightness of up to 1,200 nits and IP67 make it comfortable for reading outdoors, on the move and even in the kitchen or bathroom. But you will pay for it: the gap to the previous model is substantial, and the 11-inch iPad Air, after its summer price rise, costs $749 in the US, only $50 more. The Air has a bigger screen, but no OLED and no water protection.
If you want a compact tablet for reading, notes and games, the new model looks like the most thoughtful option at this size. If your budget is tight, it is worth waiting for price cuts on the previous model or looking at Android tablets of the same format. And remember charging: without a 35W or higher adapter, there is no fast charging.
What to pair with the iPad mini, or what to buy instead
UGREEN USB-C 100W cable
The short cable from the box is not always convenient. This USB-C to USB-C cable from the official UGREEN store handles up to 100W and comes in lengths from 0.5 to 3 metres. It is more than enough for both a tablet and a laptop, and it costs just £3.12 at the moment.
Price on 27 October: £3.12
Sold: 8937+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.8%
View on AliExpress
Stylus with palm rejection
The original Apple Pencil Pro costs noticeably more. For notes and marking up PDFs, many people pick a stylus like this one: it recognises a palm resting on the screen and shows the charge level. The seller claims compatibility with iPads from 2018 to 2026, but check compatibility with the new iPad mini specifically in the description and recent reviews. The price is £2.74.
Price on 27 October: £2.74
Sold: 24288+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.0%
View on AliExpress
Lenovo Legion Y700 2025 Gen 4
If you want a compact Android tablet, a popular alternative is the fourth-generation Lenovo Legion Y700 gaming tablet with an 8.8-inch screen. AliExpress sells the Chinese TB322FC version, so before buying, check the reviews for English language support and Google services.
Price on 27 October: £546.39
Sold: 554+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.2%
View on AliExpress
Pre-orders for the iPad mini open on 28 October, and the first reviews will most likely appear closer to 6 November. That is when we will see how the OLED and the new chip behave in real life and how long the battery lasts.