Apple launches its first OLED iPad mini with a thinner, water-resistant design

Apple has unveiled a redesigned iPad mini with a larger OLED screen, an A20 Pro chip and water and dust resistance.

The Wi-Fi model starts at $699 in the US, up $100 from the previous model’s $599 starting price, with cellular versions starting at $849. Preorders open October 28, and deliveries and store sales begin November 6.

A bigger, brighter screen in a thinner body

The iPad mini moves from an 8.3-inch LCD to an 8.5-inch OLED screen, delivering deeper blacks and brighter HDR highlights. Apple has reduced the bezels by 24%, fitting the larger display into the same footprint.

Peak brightness reaches 1,200 nits for HDR content, more than double the previous model’s maximum, with 600 nits available across the full screen. The display can also dim to one nit for reading in the dark. A nano-texture glass option on the 256GB and 512GB models reduces glare in bright surroundings.

The tablet is thinner and lighter, measuring 5.4mm thick and weighing 255 grams for Wi-Fi or 263 grams for cellular. It comes in midnight and starlight finishes.

Its new IP67 rating covers dust protection and immersion in water up to one meter deep for 30 minutes under laboratory conditions. Water resistance can diminish with wear, and Apple’s warranty does not cover liquid damage.

The screen becomes part of the sound system

Apple’s new Acoustic Display delivers bass through the screen, with high-frequency speakers hidden between the glass and aluminum frame. Apple says the system produces louder sound and stronger bass, and its sealed construction helps protect the tablet against water.

The 12MP Center Stage front camera moves to the landscape edge, placing it more naturally for video calls when the tablet is held horizontally. The rear 12MP camera records 4K video at up to 60fps and gains an Adaptive True Tone flash for photography and document scanning.

A20 Pro brings more power, with differences between models

Apple says the A20 Pro chip delivers up to 60% faster multithreaded CPU performance, 2.7 times the graphics performance and 4.5 times the AI performance of the previous generation. Those gains target tasks such as photo editing, gaming and running AI models on the device.

The processing hardware varies by storage capacity. Apple’s specifications list a five-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine for the 128GB and 256GB models. The 512GB version gets a six-core CPU and two 16-core Neural Engines, giving the highest-capacity model additional processing power. All three have a seven-core GPU.

Battery life is rated at up to 10 hours of Wi-Fi browsing or video playback, or nine hours of browsing over cellular. Fast charging reaches approximately 50% in 30 minutes with a separately sold adapter rated at 35W or higher.

Faster connectivity and expanded software features

Apple’s N1 wireless chip adds Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. Cellular models use the company’s C2 modem, which Apple says delivers up to 50% faster cellular data speeds than the previous iPad mini.

The tablet runs iPadOS 27 and supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C. With iPadOS 27.2, it gains extended-display support for working across the tablet and an external monitor.

Siri AI also arrives in beta with iPadOS 27.2, adding the ability to use personal context and understand onscreen content. Availability depends on the supported language and region.

The iPad mini could be the first of several Apple announcements this week. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has suggested that M6-powered iMac and MacBook Pro updates could follow on Tuesday, with touchscreen MacBook Pros arriving on Wednesday, when Apple is holding its “Pro and Tell” media experience in Los Angeles.