New iPad mini gets 8.5-inch OLED screen and A20 Pro chip at $699

Apple has given its smallest tablet a major redesign. In an October 26, 2026 press release, the company introduced a new iPad mini with an 8.5-inch OLED display and its A20 Pro chip, and it called the change the biggest update the line has ever had.

The upgrade comes with a higher price. The Wi-Fi model starts at $699 in the U.S., and preorders open on Wednesday, October 28. That is $100 more than the model it replaces, according to Ars Technica.

Key facts

• The new iPad mini has an 8.5-inch OLED screen and the A20 Pro chip.
• It is 5.4 mm thin, comes in midnight and starlight, and is rated IP67 for water and dust.
• Prices start at $699 for Wi-Fi and $849 for Wi-Fi + Cellular in the U.S.
• Preorders begin Wednesday, October 28, and sales start Friday, November 6.
• Storage comes in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB versions.

A bigger, brighter screen

Apple says the 8.5-inch panel fits in the same footprint as the last mini. The trick is a set of bezels that are 24 percent thinner, so the screen grows without the tablet getting larger.

The display can hit up to 1200 nits of peak brightness, which Apple says is more than double the last model. Full-screen brightness reaches 600 nits, with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. At the other end, the screen can dim down to just 1 nit, which helps in dark rooms.

Buyers who work in bright light can pick a nano-texture glass option to cut glare. Apple first offered that finish on the iPad Pro. Ars Technica says the option costs $100 and is only available on the 256GB and 512GB models.

Inside the A20 Pro chip

The A20 Pro is made on a 2-nanometer process. Its 7-core GPU has Neural Accelerators built into each core, and Apple says that gives up to 4.5x faster AI performance than the last generation. The company also claims up to 2.7x better graphics and up to 60 percent faster multithreaded CPU work.

Not every model gets the same chip setup. Apple says only the 512GB version has the Dual 16-core Neural Engine, which it says doubles the processing power of the prior model. Ars Technica reports that the 128GB and 256GB models have a single 16-core NPU and five CPU cores rather than six.

Wireless parts were also updated. The tablet uses Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. Cellular models add the C2 modem, which Apple says delivers up to 50 percent faster data speeds.

The cameras changed too. The 12MP Center Stage front camera now sits on the landscape edge, and the 12MP Wide rear camera can record 4K video at up to 60 fps.

Background

The last iPad mini used an IPS screen with 500 nits of peak brightness and a 3-nanometer A17 Pro chip, Ars Technica reports. That outlet also notes the older model had no official IP rating, so the new IP67 rating is a first for the line.

Pricing has climbed over time. According to Ars Technica, the 7th-generation iPad mini launched at $499 in 2024 and later rose to $599. The new model adds another $100 on top of that.

The timing is notable as well. TechCrunch reports that Apple revealed the tablet days before its "Pro and Tell" event, which is set for Wednesday.

What it means for you

Apple pitches the mini to a wide group. Its release names creators, small business owners, doctors, field service workers and gamers, and it points to pilots who use the tablet as an electronic flight bag in dim cockpits.

Video callers should note one change. Ars Technica says frequent FaceTime users may need to adjust because the front camera moved from the short edge to the long edge. That should suit people who hold the tablet sideways, but it may feel odd for those who hold it upright.

The storage choice matters more than usual. If the extra Neural Engine power or the sixth CPU core is important to you, Apple's specs point you to the 512GB model. As Apple's hardware engineering chief Dave Pakula put it, "iPad mini is beloved for its fantastic portability, performance, and display".

Practical steps

• Preorders open Wednesday, October 28, at apple.com and in the Apple Store app.
• The tablet becomes available Friday, November 6.
• In the U.S., the Wi-Fi model is $699, the cellular model is $849, and education buyers pay $649.
• The new TechWoven Smart Folio costs $79, Apple Pencil Pro costs $129 and Apple Pencil (USB-C) costs $79.
• Preorders start in 36 countries and regions, including the U.S.

What happens next

Apple says Siri AI is rolling out in beta with iPadOS 27. With iPadOS 27.2, the iPad mini will also support extended display mode on an external monitor.

Some questions remain open. Independent tests of battery life and A20 Pro speed are not yet available, and Apple has not shared the new model's exact weight. Pricing for markets outside the U.S. has also not been detailed. What Apple will show at its Wednesday event is still unknown.

FAQ

How much do the bigger storage options cost? Ars Technica says the 256GB model costs $100 more and the 512GB model costs $300 more than the $699 base price.

How fast does it charge? Apple says fast charging can reach up to 50 percent in about 30 minutes.

Does it work with Apple Pencil? Yes. Apple says the tablet supports both Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro.

Is it water resistant? Yes. The new model carries an IP67 rating for water and dust.