TL;DR
Get the latest gadgets delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Apple announced a redesigned iPad mini with an 8.5-inch OLED display, A20 Pro chip, and IP67-rated splash, water and dust resistance. U.S. prices start at $699 for Wi-Fi, with pre-orders opening October 28 and deliveries beginning November 6.
Apple announced a redesigned iPad mini on October 26, adding an 8.5-inch OLED display, its A20 Pro chip and IP67-rated splash, water and dust resistance. The tablet starts at $699 for Wi-Fi in the United States; pre-orders begin October 28, and customer deliveries and retail availability are scheduled for November 6.
The new model has a larger OLED screen than the previous-generation mini, which Apple says offers more than twice the peak brightness and higher contrast. Buyers can choose a nano-texture display option. Apple describes the device as thinner and lighter than its predecessor, though the announcement does not give measurements or a weight comparison. The display’s stated 8.5-inch size is measured diagonally as a rectangle; Apple notes that rounded corners reduce the actual viewable area.
Apple says the A20 Pro includes Neural Accelerators in each GPU core and a dual 16-core Neural Engine, which it says will support AI tasks. The tablet also adds a 12-megapixel Center Stage front camera positioned on the landscape edge, an Acoustic Display, faster wireless and cellular connectivity, and fast-charge support. Apple did not provide specific charging speeds or detailed connectivity figures in the announcement.
The iPad mini will be sold in midnight and starlight, with 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage options. U.S. Wi-Fi pricing starts at $699, while Wi-Fi + Cellular starts at $849. Apple lists education pricing from $649 for Wi-Fi. The device supports both Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C); a new TechWoven Smart Folio is sold separately for $79 in the U.S. Pre-orders begin October 28 at Apple’s website and app in 36 countries and regions, including the United States.
OLED and A20 Pro Reshape the Mini
The announcement brings several changes to Apple’s smallest iPad line at once: a larger OLED display, a new processor generation, and a stated level of resistance to water and dust. That combination may make the mini more appealing to people who want a compact tablet for video, games, drawing, reading or work away from a desk. The landscape-positioned front camera also reflects the device’s use for video calls, where a camera placed along the long edge can better match the way many people hold a tablet.
Price is a central part of the practical choice. At $699 for the base Wi-Fi model, the new mini begins at a substantial U.S. retail price, while cellular connectivity raises the starting price to $849. The OLED display and A20 Pro are Apple’s stated hardware upgrades, but the announcement does not include independent testing or comparisons showing how they perform in everyday use. Buyers weighing an upgrade will need to compare the new price and features with their current iPad and other tablet options.
Apple also links the chip upgrade to Apple Intelligence features, including tools for image editing and help from Siri. Those capabilities depend on software availability and compatibility, so the hardware announcement alone does not establish how each feature will work across all languages, regions or apps. Apple says it uses on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute for Apple Intelligence, and says personal data handled by the latter is not stored or made accessible to Apple. These are company descriptions of its privacy approach.
Products Worth Considering
Apple iPad Air (4th Generation, 10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 256GB) – Space Gray
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation
Apple iPad Air (2025) 13‑inch Wi‑Fi 256 GB – Space Gray (M3 chip)
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
A New Generation of the Compact iPad
The iPad mini is Apple’s compact tablet, positioned for users who prefer a smaller device to its larger iPad models. In its announcement, Apple described customers including creators, small-business owners, doctors, field-service workers and gamers. Those examples are the company’s description of its audience, rather than evidence about how buyers use the product overall.
Apple is promoting the new model as a broad redesign rather than a single-component refresh. The company identifies the OLED screen, A20 Pro, camera placement, Acoustic Display and resistance rating as key changes. Its October 26 announcement sets out the U.S. price and sales dates, but does not provide a full technical comparison with the previous mini across dimensions, battery life, sustained performance or wireless standards.
The stated IP67 rating comes with important limits. Apple says the tablet was tested under controlled laboratory conditions and can withstand immersion in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. It also says resistance is not permanent and may decline with normal wear; liquid damage is not covered by the warranty. The rating should not be read as a guarantee against all water exposure.
““With a remarkably thinner and lighter design, a stunning new OLED display, the incredibly powerful A20 Pro, and water and dust resistance, the new iPad mini is a huge leap forward for users who love having the full iPad experience in the palm of their hand.””
— Dave Pakula, Apple vice president of Hardware Engineering
Performance and Durability Still Need Testing
Apple has not published independent benchmark results for the A20 Pro in this iPad, nor detailed figures for battery life, charging speed, wireless performance or the device’s exact dimensions and weight. The company’s claims of higher brightness and improved performance have not been independently verified in the announcement. Real-world tests and reviews will be needed to assess how the screen, processor and battery perform in regular use.
The durability rating also has limits: Apple says resistance can decrease over time, and liquid damage is not covered under warranty. The announcement does not clarify how the nano-texture option affects availability, pricing or delivery timing in each market. Apple Intelligence features are described by the company, but rollout details and feature availability by region and language are not specified here.
Pricing and availability outside the markets named by Apple remain uncertain from this announcement. Apple says pre-orders will open in 36 countries and regions, including the U.S., but the release does not list every market or provide all local prices. Availability of cellular configurations, accessories and education discounts may also vary by location.
Pre-Orders Open October 28
Customers can pre-order the new iPad mini starting Wednesday, October 28, through Apple’s website and Apple Store app in 36 countries and regions, including the United States. Apple says orders will begin arriving and the device will be available at Apple Store locations and authorized resellers on Friday, November 6.
Further details are likely to come through product listings, regional storefronts and hands-on reviews as the tablet reaches customers. Those sources should clarify local pricing and availability, and help test Apple’s claims about display brightness, performance, charging and durability. Until then, the announced specifications, prices and dates are based on Apple’s October 26 press release.
Key Questions
When does the new iPad mini go on sale?
Apple says pre-orders open October 28, 2026. Deliveries and retail availability are scheduled to begin November 6.
How much does the new iPad mini cost?
U.S. prices start at $699 for Wi-Fi and $849 for Wi-Fi + Cellular. Apple lists education pricing from $649 for the Wi-Fi model. Prices may differ in other markets.
What are the main changes in this iPad mini?
Apple lists an 8.5-inch OLED display, the A20 Pro chip, IP67-rated splash, water and dust resistance, a 12-megapixel landscape-edge Center Stage camera, and an Acoustic Display.
Is the new iPad mini waterproof?
Apple describes it as splash, water and dust resistant and gives it an IP67 rating based on controlled laboratory testing, including up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Apple says resistance can decline with wear, and liquid damage is not covered by warranty.
Which Apple Pencil models work with the new iPad mini?
Apple says the tablet is compatible with Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C). Both are sold separately.
Source: apple.com
