Apple has unveiled the eighth-generation iPad mini, bringing an OLED display, a thinner design, and the powerful A20 Pro chip to its smallest tablet.
Starting at $699, the new iPad mini costs $100 more than its predecessor. Pre-orders begin October 28, with availability starting November 6.
Here’s a closer look at what’s new, what’s improved, and what hasn’t changed.
1. A larger OLED display
The iPad mini finally makes the switch from LCD to OLED, gaining deeper blacks, improved contrast, and more vibrant colors.
The display also grows slightly from 8.3 inches to 8.5 inches, with peak HDR brightness reaching 1,200 nits.
However, Apple has kept the refresh rate at 60Hz, meaning the iPad mini still lacks the smoother 120Hz ProMotion technology found on its Pro models.
A nano-texture glass option is available for $100 extra on 256GB and 512GB configurations.
2. A thinner and lighter design
The redesigned iPad mini measures just 5.4mm thick and weighs 0.56 pounds for the Wi-Fi model.
That’s approximately 15% thinner and lighter than the previous generation, which measured 6.3mm and weighed 0.65 pounds.
Despite the slimmer construction, Apple advertises the same battery life as before.
3. A new speaker system without visible holes
Apple has introduced an Acoustic Display system that uses the screen itself to produce sound.
Woofers positioned behind the display provide bass, while tweeters sit between the glass and aluminum enclosure.
The design eliminates the traditional speaker grilles, giving the iPad mini a cleaner exterior.
4. Water and dust resistance for the first time
The redesigned speaker system also helps the iPad mini achieve an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, making it the first iPad with official protection against water immersion.
IP67 means the device is rated to withstand immersion in freshwater up to one meter deep for 30 minutes under laboratory conditions.
That adds a measure of protection against accidental spills and splashes, although water resistance can diminish with normal wear.
5. A20 Pro delivers a major performance boost
The new A20 Pro chip uses TSMC’s 2nm manufacturing process and brings substantial improvements over the A17 Pro.
Apple claims:
- CPU: Up to 60% faster.
- GPU: Up to 2.7 times faster.
- AI performance: Up to 4.5 times faster.
There is one important distinction between storage configurations.
The 128GB and 256GB models have a 5-core CPU and a single 16-core Neural Engine, while the 512GB version gets a 6-core CPU and dual 16-core Neural Engines.
6. Faster Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity
Apple’s N1 wireless chip brings Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 to the iPad mini, along with improvements to AirDrop and AirPlay reliability.
Cellular models also gain the C2 modem, which Apple says delivers up to 50% faster cellular data speeds.
7. Better cameras and document scanning
The 12-megapixel front camera now sits along the landscape edge, making video calls more convenient when the tablet is held horizontally.
On the back, Apple has added Adaptive True Tone flash, which adjusts its lighting pattern to better illuminate subjects.
The biggest benefit comes when scanning documents, where the camera can combine multiple images to reduce shadows and improve readability.
8. Fast charging finally arrives
The iPad mini 8 supports fast charging for the first time, reaching approximately 50% battery capacity in 30 minutes with a 35W or higher power adapter.
However, Apple includes only a 20W USB-C adapter in the box, so reaching the advertised charging speed requires a separate charger.
9. Extended display support
With iPadOS 27.2, the iPad mini can use an external monitor in extended display mode rather than simply mirroring its screen.
This provides additional workspace when connecting the tablet to a compatible external display.
10. New colors and a higher starting price
The iPad mini 8 comes in just two finishes: Midnight and Starlight.
It retains Touch ID in the top button, USB-C connectivity, and the same advertised battery life as the previous generation.
Pricing starts at $699, up from $599 earlier this year and $499 when the previous model debuted in 2024.
Pre-orders open Wednesday, October 28, at 10:10 a.m. Pacific Time, with deliveries and in-store availability beginning November 6.
