Apple unveils iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro

Apple unveiled a redesigned iPad mini on Oct. 26, calling it the biggest update to the small tablet. The new model has an OLED display, an A20 Pro chip, a thinner and lighter body, and IP67 water and dust resistance. It starts at $699 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model, with the Wi-Fi + Cellular model at $849. Preorders begin Oct. 28 and devices arrive Nov. 6 in 36 countries and regions, including the U.S..

The 8.5-inch OLED panel is slightly larger than the previous 8.3-inch screen, thanks to bezels that are 24% slimmer. Apple says the display has more than 2x higher peak brightness than the prior generation, and The Verge reports up to 1,200 nits peak brightness and a 1-nit minimum brightness. It does not include ProMotion; the specifications list a 60Hz refresh rate and support for up to 4K resolution. The 256GB and 512GB models can be ordered with a nano-texture glass option, which 9to5Mac says is a $100 upgrade.

The new iPad mini is 5.4mm thick, down from 6.3mm, and weighs 255 grams, down from 297 grams. The aluminum body has an IP67 rating, meaning it is rated for splashes, water, and dust, tested to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes under IEC standard 60529; Apple notes resistance is not permanent and liquid damage is not covered under warranty. The front camera is now a 12MP Center Stage sensor on the long edge, while the rear has a 12MP Wide camera with Smart HDR 4 and 4K video at up to 60fps.

Performance comes from the A20 Pro chip. Apple says the chip has Neural Accelerators in each GPU core and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine. The Verge reports that 128GB and 256GB configurations have a five-core CPU with two super cores and three efficiency cores, while the 512GB model gets a six-core CPU with two super cores and four efficiency cores; 9to5Mac adds that all versions have a 7-core GPU and hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Apple promises up to 10 hours of battery life for video or web browsing on Wi-Fi.

For audio and connectivity, Apple says an Acoustic Display uses specially designed woofers paired through the screen for "punchier bass and more volume" and custom tweeters between the glass and aluminum for "clearer highs". The tablet uses the N1 networking chip with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support; cellular models carry the C2 modem. Fast-charge support is included, though Apple did not specify wattage in its announcement.

The iPad mini comes in midnight and starlight, with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. Apple offers monthly financing from $58.25 for 12 months on the Wi-Fi model, or $14.99 per month for a 36-month lease; education pricing starts at $649. The TechWoven Smart Folio is $79, the Apple Pencil Pro is $129, and the Apple Pencil (USB-C) is $79. The previous seventh-generation iPad mini from 2024 started at $499, so the new OLED model costs $200 more at entry level.