There are 13 reasons to buy the OLED iPad mini if you are still on an older model. The screen is bigger and brighter, and the A20 Pro chip adds a large jump in graphics and AI speed. The body is thinner too, with IP67 water resistance.
Apple announced the iPad mini today, and calls it the biggest update the tablet has ever received. The Wi-Fi model starts at $699, pre-orders open at 10:10 a.m. PT on Wednesday, October 28, and it arrives on Friday, November 6.
1. The Display Grows to 8.5 Inches in the Same Footprint
The new iPad mini fits an 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display into the same footprint as the previous model. The bezels are 24 percent thinner, which lets the screen grow from 8.3 inches without making the tablet bigger.
OLED lights each pixel on its own, so blacks are much deeper, and the panel covers the P3 wide color gamut. Contrast reaches 2,000,000:1, and the screen measures 2316 by 1512 pixels at 326 ppi. True Tone and a fully laminated build round out the panel.
2. Peak Brightness Passes 1200 Nits and Minimum Brightness Drops to 1 Nit
HDR content peaks at up to 1200 nits, more than 2x the previous iPad mini. The screen holds 600 nits across the full display for SDR and XDR content, so bright rooms and outdoor use get easier.
At the other end of the range, minimum brightness drops to 1 nit, which suits reading in bed at night. Apple pitches it to pilots checking an electronic flight bag in the cockpit.
3. A Nano-Texture Glass Option Cuts Glare on the 256GB and 512GB Models
The anti-glare finish from the iPad Pro is now an option on the iPad mini. It scatters ambient light instead of bouncing it back, which cuts glare for people editing outdoors or working in the field.
Only the 256GB and 512GB models offer it, and it ships with a polishing cloth in the box. The 128GB model gets the standard glass.
4. The Body Is 5.4 mm Thin and 13 Percent Lighter
The iPad mini is 5.4 mm thick, which is 14 percent thinner and 13 percent lighter than the previous model. The Wi-Fi model weighs 0.56 pound and the Wi-Fi + Cellular model weighs 0.58 pound. The body measures 7.69 by 5.22 inches.
It comes in midnight and starlight, and midnight is a new finish for the iPad mini. The enclosure is 100 percent recycled aluminum.
5. IP67 Water and Dust Resistance Comes to the iPad Mini
The iPad mini carries an IP67 rating, tested for immersion in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes under lab conditions. Apple points to working outside on a rainy day or reading by the pool.
Liquid damage is not covered under warranty, and the resistance can decrease with normal wear. AppleCare+ covers accidents like drops and spills.
6. The A20 Pro Chip Is Up to 60 Percent Faster in Multithreaded Work
A20 Pro is built on a 2-nanometer process with up to a 6-core CPU and a 7-core GPU. Apple claims up to 60 percent faster multithreaded CPU performance and up to 2.7x faster graphics than the iPad mini with A17 Pro. The GPU adds hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, and unified memory bandwidth more than doubles.
The 6-core CPU is exclusive to the 512GB model, and Apple’s CPU figure comes from that chip. The 128GB and 256GB models have a 5-core CPU.
7. Neural Accelerators Make On-Device AI Up to 4.5x Faster
Each GPU core has a Neural Accelerator that speeds up local models and creative tools, and Apple’s testing with a 4-billion parameter language model shows AI performance up to 4.5x faster than the previous generation.
The 512GB model also gets a Dual 16-core Neural Engine with double the processing power of the previous generation. Apple names Draw Things and Detail as apps that benefit from all 32 cores.
8. The Acoustic Display Gives the Speakers Punchier Bass
Apple’s first Acoustic Display pairs specially designed woofers with the screen and hides custom tweeters between the glass and the aluminum enclosure. Apple says that means punchier bass, more volume and clearer highs for gaming, video and editing.
The sealed enclosure also helps the iPad mini reach its IP67 rating.
9. A Landscape Front Camera and an Adaptive True Tone Flash Improve Calls and Scans
The 12MP Center Stage front camera now sits on the landscape edge, so it faces you when the iPad mini is in landscape orientation during FaceTime calls and video conferencing.
The 12MP Wide rear camera adds an Adaptive True Tone flash for low-light photos and shadow-free document scans. It records 4K video at up to 60 fps and uses Smart HDR 4 for photos.
10. Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and a Faster 5G Modem Arrive
Apple’s N1 chip brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread to every model. It improves 5GHz Wi-Fi performance and the reliability of AirDrop and AirPlay.
Wi-Fi + Cellular models use the C2 modem, which delivers up to 50 percent faster cellular data than the previous iPad mini with better power efficiency. Cellular models use eSIM only.
11. Fast Charging Reaches 50 Percent in About 30 Minutes
With a 35W or higher USB-C adapter, the iPad mini charges to 50 percent in around 30 minutes. The box includes a 20W adapter, so the quoted charging speed needs a separate adapter.
Battery life is rated at up to 10 hours of web browsing or video on Wi-Fi and up to 9 hours on cellular. The USB-C port handles DisplayPort and USB 3 transfers up to 10Gb/s, and it drives one external display at up to 4K and 60Hz.
12. Apple Pencil Pro Support and a New $79 Smart Folio Complete the Setup
The iPad mini works with Apple Pencil Pro at $129 and Apple Pencil (USB-C) at $79. Apple Pencil Pro adds squeeze, barrel roll and Find My support, and Apple Pencil hover works on the display.
The new Smart Folio uses a two-panel TechWoven design in navy blue and taupe and costs $79. A Wi-Fi model with a Smart Folio and Apple Pencil Pro comes to $907 before tax.
13. iPadOS 27 Brings Siri AI and New Apple Intelligence Tools
The iPad mini ships with iPadOS 27 and Siri AI, which is rolling out in beta. Siri AI pulls from your messages, emails and photos, acts on what is on the screen and answers general questions. It is not available in the EU on iPad.
Apple Intelligence adds Spatial Reframing, Extend and an upgraded Clean Up tool for editing photos after you take them. Notify Me in Safari watches a page for restocks and price drops, and iPadOS 27.2 adds extended display mode for external displays.
How the New iPad Mini Improves on the Previous Model
Apple’s CPU and graphics claims compare against the iPad mini with A17 Pro, and the CPU figure uses the 6-core chip in the 512GB model.
| Feature | New iPad mini | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 8.5-inch OLED | Up from 8.3 inches |
| Peak brightness | 1200 nits | More than 2x higher |
| Thickness | 5.4 mm | 14 percent thinner |
| Weight (Wi-Fi) | 0.56 pound | 13 percent lighter |
| CPU | Up to 6 cores | Up to 60 percent faster multithreaded |
| Graphics | 7-core GPU | Up to 2.7x faster |
| AI performance | Neural Accelerator in each GPU core | Up to 4.5x faster |
| Cellular data | C2 modem | Up to 50 percent faster |
| Water resistance | IP67 | New |
The OLED iPad Mini Starts at $699 and Ships November 6
The iPad mini comes in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB configurations. US pricing and financing start at these figures.
- Wi-Fi model: $699, or $58.25 a month for 12 months
- Wi-Fi + Cellular model: $849, or $70.75 a month for 12 months
- Education pricing: from $649
- Apple Upgrade lease: from $14.99 a month over 36 months for the Wi-Fi model
Apple raised its iPad trade-in values on launch day, so an iPad mini traded in at the new $340 maximum brings the $699 starting price down to $359. Anyone planning to order on day one can follow the pre-order steps for the new iPad mini.
Our Take
Owners of the sixth-generation iPad mini get the biggest jump, with up to 2.2x faster CPU performance and up to 4x faster graphics, plus a new screen, new speakers and water resistance. The 128GB model covers reading, video and notes. The 256GB model suits anyone who works outdoors and wants nano-texture glass, and the 512GB model suits local AI apps and image generation.
The catch is the price, since the Wi-Fi model costs $100 more than the previous iPad mini’s $599. Accessories add up too, with a Smart Folio and Apple Pencil Pro pushing a Wi-Fi setup to $907.
OLED iPad Mini FAQ
How much does the OLED iPad mini cost?
The Wi-Fi model starts at $699 and the Wi-Fi + Cellular model starts at $849 in the US. Education pricing starts at $649.
Does the OLED iPad mini have a 120Hz ProMotion display?
Apple does not list ProMotion for the iPad mini, so expect a 60Hz panel, which matches the earlier rumor.
Is the OLED iPad mini waterproof?
It is water and dust resistant with an IP67 rating, which covers up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Liquid damage is not covered under warranty.
What colors and storage sizes does the OLED iPad mini come in?
It comes in midnight and starlight with 128GB, 256GB and 512GB of storage. The box includes a 20W USB-C power adapter and a 1-meter USB-C charge cable.
