Although this was expected alongside the upcoming event this week, Apple announced its newest iPad mini earlier this morning. Now we already knew they were updating its screen, as more specs got beefed up as well. Pricing starts at $700 for the Wi-Fi model and $850 for the cellular, with pre-orders beginning October 28 and going on sale November 6.
For starters, the new mini is thinner at 5.4 mm thick, versus the 6.3 mm of its predecessor. It is also lighter, as it weighs 255 grams, which is down from the 297 grams of the previous version. The new build also includes an IP67 seal to combat dust and water resistance. The screen gets mildly larger, from an 8.3-inch screen to an 8.5-inch screen. Apple finally gives its smaller iPad the OLED treatment with a peak brightness of up to 1,200 nits and down to 1-nit. However, there’s still no ProMotion, so you’re still operating at a 60 Hz refresh rate.
Its FaceTime also gets upgraded to a 12MP Center Stage sensor, which has been relocated to the landscape side of the tablet. Similar to this year’s iPhones, the new iPad mini is armed with the company’s latest A20 Pro chip, C2 modem, the N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7 support, Bluetooth 6, and support for both Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the Apple Pencil Pro. And the audio side of things, Apple is doing something different. They’ve paired specifically designed woofers through the display in combination with custom tweeters under the enclosure for an improved sound experience; the company is calling it ‘Acoustic Display.’
Apple’s newest iPad mini for 2026 will arrive with midnight and starlight colors with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options. The company is also adding a nano-texture glass option for the 256GB and 512GB models as a $100 upgrade.
