On 26 October 2026, Apple introduced a new generation of iPad mini. This is the first tablet in the lineup with an OLED screen: the Super Retina XDR diagonal has grown to 8,5 inches, and the company itself called the update the most extensive in the entire history of iPad mini. The announcement was made a few days before the Pro and Tell event, which is scheduled for 28 October.
The screen works at a resolution of 2316 × 1512 pixels and delivers up to 1200 nits of peak brightness in HDR, that is, more than twice that of the iPad mini of 2024 (500 nits). With full-screen display, brightness stays at 600 nits, and Apple estimates the contrast ratio at 2 000 000:1. The refresh rate has remained at 60 Hz: neither the press release nor the technical specifications mention 120 Hz or ProMotion. On the other hand, the bezels have become 24 % thinner, and that is precisely why the screen grew while the body dimensions barely changed.
The internals are built around the A20 Pro chip, manufactured on a 2-nanometer process. The same chip is used in the iPhone 18 Pro. The 128 and 256 GB versions have a five-core CPU (two performance and three efficiency cores), a seven-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine. In the 512 GB variant, the processor is six-core (two performance and four efficiency cores), and the neural processor is doubled, at 16 cores. Apple promises up to 60 % gains in multi-threaded CPU work, up to 2,7 times in graphics and up to 4,5 times in AI tasks compared with the A17 Pro.
The body is now 5,4 mm thick, that is, roughly 14 % thinner than the previous model with its 6,3 mm, and lighter: 255 g for the Wi-Fi version and 263 g for the Cellular version, versus 293 and 297 g for its predecessor. For the first time, the iPad has IP67 protection against splashes, water and dust. It has been confirmed by laboratory tests involving immersion to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes, and Apple separately warns that this protection is not a permanent property of the device.
The sound has also been reworked. The Acoustic Display technology, appearing at Apple for the first time, moves the speakers under the screen: low frequencies are reproduced by specially designed woofers, while the tweeters are hidden between the glass and the aluminum body. According to Apple, this should deliver higher peak volume and stronger bass.
The Wi-Fi model starts at 699 dollars for 128 GB, and the Wi-Fi + Cellular version at 849 dollars. The Wi-Fi variant with 256 GB costs 799 dollars, and with 512 GB — 999. Pre-orders will open on 28 October, and the device will go on sale on 6 November. Pre-orders are being accepted in 36 countries and regions.
The price is more complicated than it seems at first glance. The starting price of the iPad mini of 2024 was 499 dollars, so the new product is 200 more expensive. However, in June 2026, the previous model had already gone up in price to 599 dollars, and relative to it the difference is 100 dollars. This is an important detail when choosing between the devices.
To sum up the comparison with its predecessor, the new product has received a brighter screen, a thinner and lighter body, water protection and noticeably more powerful chips. The drawbacks remain the same: 60 Hz without ProMotion and a higher price. Among compact tablets, the combination of an OLED screen and IP67 is still rare. This is the editorial team's observation, not Apple's conclusion.
If a compact size and a bright screen in a single body matter to you, the new product makes a noticeable step forward. If, however, smooth scrolling and responsiveness come first, it makes sense to wait for the first full reviews after sales begin on 6 November.
