On October 26, 2026, Apple unveiled a new OLED iPad mini with an 8.5-inch display, an A20 Pro chip built on a 2 nm process, IP67 water resistance and Wi-Fi 7. Pre-orders open Wednesday, October 28 at 10:10 a.m. Pacific, and the first units arrive on Friday, November 6. The starting price of $699 in the US is the part that stings.
OLED iPad mini: what Apple announced
Apple’s smallest tablet finally switches display technology. The panel grows from 8.3 to 8.5 inches and goes OLED. Brightness reaches 600 nits for standard content (up from 500) and 1,200 nits for HDR. Apple’s published specs don’t mention ProMotion, so the refresh rate looks like it stays at 60Hz.
A nano-texture finish that cuts glare costs $100 extra and is limited to the 256GB and 512GB models. You can choose between Midnight and Starlight.
The body gets slimmer too: 5.4mm thick versus 6.3mm, and 0.56 lb versus 0.65 lb for the Wi-Fi model, about 15% thinner and lighter by Apple’s count.
A20 Pro: big claimed gains
The new A20 Pro is made by TSMC on a 2 nm process and puts Neural Accelerators in every GPU core. Compared with the A17 Pro in the previous mini, Apple claims up to 60% faster CPU performance, up to 2.7x faster graphics and up to 4.5x faster AI work. These are Apple’s own numbers and still need independent testing.
The configuration depends on storage:
- 128GB and 256GB: 5-core CPU, 7-core GPU, one 16-core Neural Engine;
- 512GB: 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU, two 16-core Neural Engines.
Connectivity, sound and durability
Apple’s N1 chip brings Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, a step up from the Wi-Fi 6E of the previous model. Cellular versions use the C2 modem, which Apple says delivers up to 50% faster data speeds. USB-C stays, and Touch ID sits in a button on the top edge.
The mini also gets its first IP67 rating for water and dust. Audio changes as well: Apple describes an “Acoustic Display” with no speaker holes, where woofers play through the screen and tweeters sit between the glass and the aluminum enclosure.
The 12MP Center Stage front camera now sits on the landscape edge. On the back, a 12MP wide camera is paired with an adaptive True Tone flash.
Price and charging: the sticking points
The entry model starts at $699 in the US. The 2024 model launched at $499 and went up to $599 in June, which MacRumors counts as the second increase this year. We have no official euro pricing yet.
Fast charging to 50% in 30 minutes requires a 35W or higher adapter, but the box only includes a 20W USB-C charger and a cable. Battery life is unchanged from the previous model, according to Apple.
iPadOS 27.2, released the same day, also adds an extended display mode when the tablet is connected to an external monitor.
What it means for you
If you read, sketch or travel with an iPad mini, the OLED panel, thinner body and IP67 rating are real upgrades. The bill is just as real: at $699 the mini creeps toward bigger tablets. Real-world smoothness without ProMotion, battery life and local pricing are what we’ll be watching.
Does the OLED iPad mini tempt you at that price? Tell us in the comments, and keep an eye on Wanda-techs for more Apple news.
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