Apple has officially announced its next-generation iPad mini, delivering a major overhaul in both design and performance. Powered by the A20 Pro chip built on a 2nm process, the new iPad mini brings desktop-class processing power to a ultra-portable form factor. The A20 Pro chip features Neural Accelerators integrated into each GPU core, boosting AI capabilities up to 4.5 times faster and graphics performance by 2.7 times compared to its predecessor.
The tablet introduces an expanded 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display housed within the same compact footprint, enabled by 24 percent thinner bezels. It boasts a peak brightness of up to 1,200 nits, an optional glare-reducing nano-texture glass, and an innovative Acoustic Display sound system. For the first time on an iPad, the device adds IP67 water and dust resistance, making it more durable for field workers and travelers alike.
Camera and connectivity upgrades include a landscape-oriented 12MP Center Stage front camera, Wi-Fi 7 via Apple’s N1 wireless chip, and faster 5G capabilities. Running on iPadOS 27, pre-orders open October 28, with store availability beginning November 6. You can checkout the full specs of the new iPad mini here.
The new mini starts at $699, a $200 increase over the previous model’s $499 launch price. The cellular version starts at $849, with 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage options. Apple also didn’t specify the display’s refresh rate. The new iPad mini also supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C) .
