Apple has introduced the eighth-generation iPad mini, bringing major updates to its compact touchscreen lineup. Starting at $699, the new model arrives at a higher price point than its predecessor, but Apple describes the release as the most significant update to the compact tablet to date, highlighted by an OLED display and a faster processor.
Enlarged Display and Redesigned Enclosure
The updated iPad mini maintains nearly the same overall footprint as the 2024 model, but it expands the screen size from 8.3 inches to an 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR display by cutting bezel thickness by 24 percent. The device’s body has also been slimmed down to 5.4 millimeters, making it almost a full millimeter thinner than the previous version. For the first time, the iPad mini includes an official IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, a feature missing from the seventh-generation model.
Moving away from IPS technology, the new OLED panel delivers deeper blacks and a substantial bump in peak brightness, reaching 1,200 nits compared to 500 nits on the prior generation. It can also drop to a minimum brightness of 1 nit for comfortable viewing in low-light environments. Apple is offering a nano-textured matte screen option as well, bringing the display experience closer to the standards of its Pro-tier devices.
Upgraded Performance With the A20 Pro Chip
Inside, the tablet is powered by the 2-nanometer A20 Pro processor, which first appeared in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. The chip replaces the 3-nanometer A17 Pro, which was already a year old when integrated into the previous iPad mini.
The architectural step up to the A20 Pro enhances graphics capabilities, driven in part by a 50 percent increase in memory bandwidth compared to the older chip design.
