Apple's New iPad mini Adds 8.5-Inch OLED and A20 Pro, Starts at $699
Apple unveiled an 8.5-inch OLED iPad mini with A20 Pro, IP67 water and dust resistance, and a nano-texture display option, starting at $699.
The story in focus
Apple announced a redesigned iPad mini with an 8.5-inch OLED display, A20 Pro chip, IP67 water and dust resistance, and a nano-texture option. The Wi-Fi model starts at $699, with pre-orders opening October 28 and availability on November 6.
- The 8.5-inch OLED display offers up to 1200 nits peak brightness, more than double the previous generation, and a 1-nit minimum.
- The A20 Pro chip uses a 2-nanometer process; Apple claims up to 4.5x faster AI performance and up to 2.7x faster graphics than the prior model.
- The device is 5.4 mm thick with an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.
- Wi-Fi models start at $699 and Wi-Fi plus Cellular at $849; pre-orders begin October 28, with availability November 6.
- A nano-texture display option reduces glare; The Verge notes the tablet still lacks ProMotion and tops out at 60Hz.
What changed
Apple's new iPad mini moves from an 8.3-inch LCD to an 8.5-inch OLED panel while keeping the same footprint, thanks to bezels that are 24 percent thinner. The display reaches up to 1200 nits peak brightness and supports a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. A nano-texture option is available to cut glare.
The tablet is 5.4 mm thick, carries an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, and adds a 12MP Center Stage front camera on the landscape edge. Apple's N1 wireless chip brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, while cellular models use the C2 modem. The A20 Pro chip is built on a 2-nanometer process, and the 512GB configuration includes a dual 16-core Neural Engine.
Who it affects and what is available
The update targets buyers who want a compact iPad for reading, note-taking, video calls, and on-device AI tasks. iPadOS 27 brings Siri AI in beta and new Apple Intelligence features, though Apple says Siri AI is not currently available in the EU and some features carry daily usage limits.
The iPad mini comes in midnight and starlight with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage. Wi-Fi models start at $699, and Wi-Fi plus Cellular models start at $849. Pre-orders open Wednesday, October 28, in 36 countries and regions, including the U.S., with availability beginning Friday, November 6. A new TechWoven Smart Folio costs $79, and both Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro are compatible.
Does the new iPad mini support ProMotion?
No. The Verge reports the tablet's specs list support for up to 4K resolution at 60Hz, so it does not include Apple's ProMotion adaptive refresh technology.
Sources & further reading
- Apple gives iPad mini its biggest update ever ↗Apple
- Apple updates the iPad Mini with a larger OLED display ↗The Verge
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