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Apple has introduced its latest iPad mini, bringing substantial performance gains, a redesigned slim profile, and a long-awaited OLED screen to its compact tablet lineup. However, these major upgrades come with a higher price tag and a reduced color selection.
Performance and Pricing Updates
Driven by the 2nm A20 Pro system-on-chip featuring five graphics cores, the new tablet delivers dramatic performance leaps compared to its predecessor. According to Apple, the device achieves up to 2.7 times faster graphics capabilities and up to 4.5 times greater speed in artificial intelligence workloads than the A17 Pro model. While official RAM figures are not published by the company, the device likely houses 12GB of RAM. Both variants support Apple Intelligence and Siri, though the A20 Pro handles demanding on-device artificial intelligence tasks more efficiently.
Battery longevity remains consistent, but charging speeds have improved, allowing the device to reach a 50 percent charge in 30 minutes using a compatible adapter. Color choices are now limited to Midnight and Starlight. Meanwhile, pricing has risen by $200, bringing the entry-level 128GB model to $699. Fully configured with cellular connectivity, a nano-texture glass finish, and 512GB of storage, the device costs $1,249.
The Shift to OLED
The standout hardware change is the inclusion of an OLED panel, making it the only model outside the iPad Pro lineup to use this display technology. While maintaining a similar resolution, peak HDR brightness reaches up to 1,200 nits, far exceeding the 500 nits of SDR brightness on the previous generation. The OLED integration allows the tablet to be thinner at 5.4mm and lighter at 255 grams, while keeping the same height and nearly identical width as before.
Bezels have been reduced by 24 percent, expanding the screen size slightly to 8.5 inches. Despite users on X voicing frustration over the continued use of a 60Hz refresh rate at a $700 price point, Dave Pakula, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering, explained in an interview with Christopher Lawley that the viewing experience relies on more than one specification, noting that faster pixel response times from OLED ensure smooth motion. Apple Pencil Pro compatibility remains available for creative users.
Water Resistance and Additional Upgrades
The updated compact tablet introduces IP67 water resistance, a first for any iPad. This was achieved by removing traditional speaker grilles in favor of an Acoustic Display system, which uses tweeters situated between the glass and aluminum frame along with woofers firing through the display to provide enhanced audio output. Connectivity improvements include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Apple’s new C2 cellular modem system, which offers up to 50 percent faster data speeds.
Biometric security continues to rely on the Touch ID power button, while the front-facing camera has been relocated to the longer edge for an improved landscape video calling orientation. Operating on iPadOS 27, the hardware supports advanced on-device artificial intelligence features, refined dictation, and customizable Siri controls. With native support for demanding gaming titles, the device positions itself as a capable portable gaming machine.
