Apple Unveils OLED iPad Mini With A20 Pro Chip
Apple's new iPad mini packs an 8.5-inch OLED display, A20 Pro chip and IP67 water resistance in a thinner body, starting at $699 and on sale November 6.
Apple has unveiled a redesigned iPad mini, its smallest tablet, with the biggest upgrade the line has seen in years. Announced on October 26, 2026, the new model swaps its old LCD screen for a bright OLED display, moves to the A20 Pro chip from the iPhone 18 Pro, and adds water and dust resistance for the first time. It starts at $699 in the US, with pre-orders opening October 28 and availability from November 6.
A brighter OLED display at last
The headline change is the screen. The new iPad mini has an 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, up slightly from the 8.3-inch LCD on the previous model, thanks to bezels that are 24 percent thinner. OLED lights each pixel on its own, so blacks are deeper and contrast is far higher, and Apple says peak brightness reaches up to 1,200 nits, more than twice the previous generation. For readers, sketchers and video watchers, that means a screen that holds up better outdoors and in dim rooms alike. A nano-texture glass option, which cuts glare, is available on the 256GB and 512GB models for an extra $100.
A20 Pro power in a pocket-sized tablet
Inside, the new iPad mini runs on the A20 Pro chip, built on a 2-nanometer process. Apple claims up to 60 percent faster multithreaded CPU performance, up to 2.7 times faster graphics and up to 4.5 times faster AI performance compared with the previous iPad mini. The chip also powers the next generation of Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, which can draw on personal context to find information, answer questions and understand what is on screen. The 512GB model goes further with a Dual 16-core Neural Engine for heavier on-device AI work.
Speakers in the screen, and a first water rating
Apple has also reworked the audio. The new Acoustic Display puts specially designed woofers behind the screen itself, while tweeters sit in the seam where glass meets aluminum, removing the need for speaker vents around the body. That vent-free design is what makes the first-ever IP67 rating possible. The tablet can survive being submerged in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes, a useful safety net against spills and rain, though Apple notes resistance can fade with normal wear and liquid damage may fall outside warranty coverage.
Thinner, lighter, better connected
The new iPad mini is 5.4 mm thick, down from 6.3 mm, and the Wi-Fi model weighs 255 grams. A 12MP Center Stage front camera now sits on the landscape edge, so video calls look right when the tablet is held sideways. Connectivity steps up to Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread through Apple's N1 chip, while cellular models use Apple's C2 modem, which Apple says is up to 50 percent faster than the last mini.
Price and release date
The new iPad mini starts at $699 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model and $849 for the 128GB cellular model, with 256GB and 512GB options also available. It comes in two finishes, midnight and starlight. Pre-orders open Wednesday, October 28, and it reaches stores on Friday, November 6. The $699 starting price is $100 more than the previous model's $599 price, and $200 more than its original $499 launch price in 2024. For buyers, the trade is clear: a much better screen, a much faster chip and real water resistance, at a higher entry cost.
Sources
- TechCrunch - https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/26/apple-unveils-new-ipad-mini-with-oled-display-and-faster-a20-pro-chip/ - Digital Trends - https://www.digitaltrends.com/tablets/apples-new-ipad-mini-has-speakers-built-into-its-screen-an-a20-pro-chip-and-ip67-protection/ - The Apple Post - https://www.theapplepost.com/2026/10/26/73587/apple-unveils-all-new-ipad-mini-with-oled-display-and-a20-pro/