Apple has unveiled a new iPad mini with an OLED display and the A20 Pro processor; pre-orders begin on 28 October, and prices start at $699.
Display and design
The tablet features an 8.5‑inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with an optional nanotexture and a peak brightness of 1200 nits, twice that of the previous generation. The screen is described as brighter and more detailed compared with its predecessor.
Despite the larger screen, the chassis is more compact and lighter — it is 5.4 mm thick. The device also has water and dust protection to the IP57 standard.
Processor and performance
Power comes from the 2‑nanometre A20 Pro processor, which includes a 7‑core graphics processor and neural accelerators in each core, delivering up to 4.5 times faster artificial intelligence performance compared with the previous model. The graphics architecture — with dynamic caching, hardware‑accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing — provides 2.7 times the graphics performance.
The 512 GB configuration is equipped with two 16‑core neural processors, offering double the computational performance compared with the previous generation, and the A20 Pro provides more than twice the bandwidth of the unified memory. For connectivity the device adds the N1 network chip (Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread) and a C2 modem, which delivers up to 50% higher cellular data throughput and improved energy efficiency.
Cameras and sound
The tablet features an Acoustic Display and low‑frequency speakers for deeper bass and higher volume, while the high‑frequency speakers are positioned between the glass and the aluminium body. These changes are aimed at improving sound reproduction.
The front camera is 12 MP and supports Center Stage; it has been moved to the side edge to be more convenient in landscape orientation. The main 12 MP wide camera supports Smart HDR 4 and records 4K video at 60 frames per second.
Price and availability
The device will be available in Midnight and Starlight finishes with 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB storage options. The Wi‑Fi‑only version will start at $699, while the Wi‑Fi + cellular model starts at $849.
Pre-orders for the new iPad mini begin on 28 October.
