Apple calls it the biggest update ever for its smallest tablet. The new Apple iPad mini gets an 8.5-inch OLED display, the A20 Pro chip built on a 2-nanometer process, an IP67 rating and a completely new speaker design that Apple calls the Acoustic Display. Pre-orders opened on 28 October, and the new iPad mini reaches stores on 6 November 2026.
Apple iPad mini: OLED arrives in the small format
The most visible change is the screen. The new 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR display uses OLED, with an optional nano-texture finish against reflections. Peak brightness rises to 1,200 nits, more than double the previous generation, with 600 nits full-screen brightness for both SDR and HDR. Apple quotes a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a minimum brightness of just 1 nit for reading in the dark. The bezels are 24% thinner, so the larger screen fits in the same footprint as before.
At 5.4 mm, the Apple iPad mini is also thinner and lighter than its predecessor, and the sealed enclosure gives it an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.
Acoustic Display: speakers behind the screen
For our readers, the audio side is the most interesting part. Apple has redesigned the speaker system around what it calls the Acoustic Display. Woofers are paired through the display itself to deliver more bass and more volume, while custom tweeters sit hidden between the glass and the aluminium enclosure. The sealed construction that makes this possible also contributes to the IP67 rating. Apple does not state the number of speakers.
Built-in speakers on a tablet will never replace a proper hi-fi system, of course. But for watching films in bed or a video call on the go, a fuller sound from such a small device is a welcome step.
A20 Pro chip and N1 wireless
Inside sits the A20 Pro, built on a 2-nanometer process. The 6-core CPU is up to 60% faster in multithreaded tasks, and the 7-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in each core delivers up to 4.5 times faster AI performance. Graphics are up to 2.7 times faster, with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading. Unified memory bandwidth has more than doubled.
Apple’s N1 wireless chip adds Wi-Fi 7 (where supported), Bluetooth 6 and Thread, and cellular models use the C2 modem for up to 50% faster data. There is a 12MP Center Stage front camera on the landscape edge and a 12MP Wide camera on the back that records 4K video at up to 60 fps.
iPadOS 27 and accessories
The Apple iPad mini runs iPadOS 27. Siri AI arrives in beta with iPadOS 27.2 in a number of languages, but Apple notes it is not available in the EU. A new Smart Folio in TechWoven fabric comes in navy blue and taupe, and the iPad mini supports both Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C). If you use Apple devices around the house, read also our news on the Apple HomePod mini with Siri AI.
Pricing and availability
The Apple iPad mini starts at $699 for the Wi-Fi model and $849 for Wi-Fi + Cellular, with 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of storage, in midnight and starlight. Pre-orders opened on 28 October in 36 countries and regions, and the iPad mini is in stores from 6 November 2026. European prices vary by country. More information is available on the Apple website.
Key specifications
- Display: 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, up to 1,200 nits peak, 2,000,000:1 contrast, optional nano-texture
- Chip: A20 Pro (2 nm), 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU, dual 16-core Neural Engine
- Audio: Acoustic Display design, woofers through the display, hidden tweeters
- Cameras: 12MP Center Stage front, 12MP Wide rear with 4K60 video
- Wireless: N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread; C2 modem on cellular models
- Build: 5.4 mm thin, IP67, 100% recycled aluminium enclosure
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
- Colours: midnight, starlight
- Price: from $699 (Wi-Fi), $849 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
- Availability: in stores from 6 November 2026
