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Apple has finally equipped the iPad mini with an OLED screen, bringing brighter color and deeper contrast to its smallest tablet. The eighth-generation model also shrinks around a slightly larger display, adds a new chipset, and raises the starting price to $699.
Brighter, higher-contrast OLED display
The new iPad mini moves from LCD to an 8.5-inch OLED panel with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits and a quoted 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Apple kept the tablet’s overall footprint similar while expanding the visible screen area from 8.3 to 8.5 inches.
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Base storage remains 128GB. Buyers who choose 256GB or 512GB models can opt for an upgraded nano-texture glass finish at extra cost.
Smaller, lighter chassis
Despite the larger display, the body is marginally narrower than the prior model — 5.22 inches wide versus 5.3 inches — and the weight has fallen. The Wi‑Fi model now weighs 0.56 pounds, down from 0.65, while the cellular 5G version is 0.58 pounds compared with 0.66 previously.
New chipset and connectivity
Apple fitted the eighth-gen iPad mini with the A20 Pro system-on-chip, the same silicon used in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. Apple says the SoC can run large language models locally and supports Apple Intelligence and Siri AI.
The A20 Pro includes a 7‑core GPU, two more cores than the A17 Pro that powered the last mini. Connectivity upgrades include Apple’s C2 modem, which the company says delivers up to 50 percent faster data speeds on cellular models, plus Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread networking enabled by the N1 chip.
Cameras and durability
On the front, the mini retains a 12MP Center Stage camera, but Apple has repositioned it to the landscape edge — a change aimed at improving video calls when the tablet is used horizontally. Face ID is still absent.
The rear camera is also 12MP and supports 4K video at 60 fps and Smart HDR 4. The tablet’s enclosure is sealed and carries an IP67 rating, meaning it should tolerate dust and temporary immersion in up to one meter of freshwater for 30 minutes.
Battery life and charging
Apple reports battery performance similar to the previous model: up to 10 hours of video playback or web browsing over Wi‑Fi, and about nine hours when using a cellular connection. With a 35W or stronger power adapter, the company says the battery can reach roughly 50 percent charge in 30 minutes.
Audio innovation: Acoustic Display
A headline feature is Apple’s first Acoustic Display, which the company describes as delivering “an even better audio experience.” Apple claims woofers are “paired through the display” to increase volume and produce “punchier bass,” while custom tweeters hidden between the glass and aluminum enclosure should yield clearer highs. Independent testing will determine how those changes translate to real-world listening.
Price and availability
The updated iPad mini starts at $699 — a $150 increase over the previous model after Apple raised that model’s price in June. Pre-orders are open now, and the tablet will be available in stores on November 6.
