Apple today announced the all-new iPad mini. Apple’s smallest iPad now features an OLED display, as well as a thinner and lighter design. Customers can pre-order it starting Wednesday, October 28, with availability beginning Friday, November 6.
The new tablet is powered by an A20 Pro, and offers improved water and dust resistance. The larger 8.5-inch OLED display (up slightly from the 8.3-inch screen used previously) is available with a nano-texture option, delivering higher contrast, reduced glare, and more than 2x higher peak brightness than the previous-generation iPad mini. The nano-texture display is a $100 upgrade option available for models with 256GB or 512GB of storage only.
Unfortunately, Apple’s tech specs do not mention ProMotion support, so it appear that a 120Hz refresh rate is not in the cards this time around.
The AI-capable A20 Pro is built with TSMC’s advanced 2nm process and has Neural Accelerators in each GPU core. Models with 128GB or 256GB of storage have a 5-core CPU, 7-core GPU, and a single 16-core Neural Engine, while configurations with 512GB of storage get a 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine.
Apple says the A20 Pro chip offers up to 60% faster CPU performance, up to 2.7× faster graphics performance, and up to 4.5× faster AI performance compared to the A17 Pro chip that powered the previous iPad mini.
A new 12MP Center Stage front camera on the landscape edge makes the new camera even better for video calls, while the device’s new Acoustic Display provides an improved better audio experience, while eliminating speaker holes. Faster wireless and cellular connectivity come along for the ride in the form of Apple’s N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support.
“Specially designed woofers are paired through the display to produce punchier bass and more volume,” said Apple. “In addition, custom tweeters are now hidden between the glass and aluminum enclosure for clearer highs.”
Fast-charge support also makes an appearance.
The new iPad mini is approximately 15% thinner and lighter than the previous model. The new Wi-Fi model is 5.4mm thick and weighs 0.56 pounds, whereas the previous-generation Wi-Fi model was 6.3mm thick and weighs 0.65 pounds.
Apple calls it the most capable and versatile iPad mini ever.
“iPad mini is beloved for its fantastic portability, performance, and display by a wide range of users, from creators and small business owners to doctors, field service workers, and gamers,” said Dave Pakula, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering. “With a remarkably thinner and lighter design, a stunning new OLED display, the incredibly powerful A20 Pro, and water and dust resistance, the new iPad mini is a huge leap forward for users who love having the full iPad experience in the palm of their hand.”
The new iPad mini can be pre-ordered starting Wednesday, October 28 at the specific time of 10:10 a.m. Pacific Time, and it will begin arriving to customers and launch in Apple Stores on Friday, November 6. In the U.S., pricing starts at $699.
Pricing and Availability
- Customers can pre-order iPad mini with A20 Pro starting Wednesday, October 28, at apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 36 countries and regions, including the U.S. It will begin arriving to customers, and will be in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, starting Friday, November 6.
- iPad mini will be available in midnight and starlight with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB configurations.
- iPad mini starts at $699 (U.S.) or $58.25 (U.S.) per month for 12 months for the Wi-Fi model, and $849 (U.S.) or $70.75 (U.S.) per month for 12 months for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
- Apple Upgrade leasing prices for the iPad mini start at $14.99 (U.S.) per month for a 36-month lease for the Wi-Fi model, and $18.21 (U.S.) per month for a 36-month lease for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
- With education savings, iPad mini starts at $649 (U.S.) or $54.08 (U.S.) per month for 12 months.
