The new iPad mini introduces Apple’s first Acoustic Display, an audio system that uses the screen itself to help produce sound. A September leak had already pointed to new speakers on the iPad mini, and Apple has now shown what they are.
Apple detailed the system in its iPad mini announcement, alongside an 8.5-inch OLED display, the A20 Pro chip and an IP67 rating. The speakers are built for gaming, watching videos and editing content.
The display works with woofers to deliver punchier bass and more volume
Apple says specially designed woofers are paired through the display to produce punchier bass and more volume. The higher frequencies come from custom tweeters hidden between the display glass and the aluminum enclosure. Apple says they deliver clearer highs, with the woofers covering the low end.
Gaming is where the A20 Pro comes in. Apple’s own testing, done in September 2026, shows graphics performance up to 2.7x faster than the previous iPad mini, with hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
A sealed enclosure helps the iPad mini reach IP67
The Acoustic Display uses a sealed enclosure, and Apple says that enclosure helps the iPad mini achieve its IP67 rating. Water resistance for the iPad mini had been rumored ahead of launch, and the speaker design is part of how Apple gets there.
Apple tested the rating under controlled laboratory conditions with the IEC 60529 standard, covering a maximum depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. The protection is not permanent and can decrease with normal wear. Apple also says liquid damage is not covered under warranty, and a wet iPad mini should not be charged.
The iPad mini starts at $699 and arrives November 6
The iPad mini starts at $699 for the Wi-Fi model and $849 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. Pre-orders open Wednesday, October 28 at apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 36 countries and regions, including the U.S. Deliveries and in-store availability begin Friday, November 6.
It comes in midnight and starlight with 128GB, 256GB and 512GB configurations. At 5.4 mm thin, the iPad mini keeps the footprint of the previous generation while stretching the OLED display to 8.5 inches, thanks to 24 percent thinner bezels. The 12MP Center Stage front camera now sits on the landscape edge for FaceTime calls and video conferencing.
The new TechWoven Smart Folio, which surfaced in a listing before launch, costs $79 in navy blue or taupe. Apple Pencil Pro at $129 and Apple Pencil (USB-C) at $79 both work with the new iPad mini.
