Apple Announces New iPad Mini With OLED Display and A20 Pro Chip

Apple unveiled the eighth-generation iPad mini on Monday, introducing a larger 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, an upgraded A20 Pro chip, and IP67 water and dust resistance. Revealed just days before a scheduled company event in Los Angeles, the new tablet starts at $699 for the Wi-Fi-only model and $849 for the Wi-Fi and cellular configuration. Preorders begin on Wednesday, October 28, with official availability set for November 6.

Despite maintaining a small form factor similar to its predecessor, the new device is thinner and lighter at 5.4mm thick, aided by bezels that are 24 percent slimmer. Dave Pakula, Apple’s vice president of hardware engineering, stated in a press release that the device represents a massive leap forward. According to Apple's lab tests, the IP67 rating allows the tablet to withstand immersion in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes, marking a first for any iPad model.

The new Super Retina XDR OLED panel reaches a peak brightness of 1,200 nits and offers a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1. It also includes a 1-nit minimum brightness designed to reduce eye strain in dim environments, alongside a nano-texture glass option for the 256GB and 512GB configurations to minimize glare. For audio, the tablet introduces an Acoustic Display system featuring custom woofers that play through the screen and tweeters positioned between the glass and aluminum enclosure.

Performance is driven by the 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, which Apple notes delivers up to 60 percent faster multithreaded CPU performance and up to 2.7 times faster graphics compared to the previous model. The processor also powers advanced AI capabilities, offering up to 4.5 times faster artificial intelligence performance through a 16-core Neural Engine. Storage capacities range from 128GB up to 512GB, with varying core counts depending on the model chosen.

Connectivity improvements include Apple's proprietary N1 wireless chip supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, while cellular variants use the updated C2 modem. The 12-megapixel front-facing Center Stage camera has been relocated to the long edge of the device to optimize landscape video calls. The tablet runs iPadOS 27, supporting upcoming Siri AI features, though footnotes indicate certain artificial intelligence tools may face regulatory delays in the European Union.

Alongside the tablet, Apple introduced a redesigned $79 Smart Folio accessory crafted from TechWoven fabric. Available in Navy Blue and Taupe, the new cover replaces the long-standing polyurethane design used since 2011 and features a two-panel magnetic construction providing an expanded range of viewing angles.