The iPad mini OLED is Apple's biggest change to its smallest tablet. It has an 8.5-inch OLED display, the A20 Pro chip and IP67 water and dust resistance. It starts at $699 and goes on sale on Friday, November 6, 2026. Specs below come from MacRumors' summary of Apple's announcement.
iPad mini OLED price and release date
Detail | iPad mini OLED |
|---|---|
Starting price (US) | $699 |
Storage | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
Nano-texture glass | +$100 (256 GB and 512 GB only) |
Colours | Midnight, Starlight |
Pre-orders | Opened October 28, 2026 |
In stores | November 6, 2026 |
Full iPad mini OLED specs
Display: 8.5-inch OLED, up from 8.3 inches. 600 nits standard and 1,200 nits peak HDR. ProMotion is not listed, so expect 60Hz.
Chip: A20 Pro on a 2nm process. The 512 GB model gets a 6-core CPU; the others get 5 cores.
Durability: IP67 water and dust resistance, a first for iPad mini.
Size: 5.4 mm thin and 0.56 lb (Wi-Fi), about 15% thinner and lighter.
Cameras: 12MP rear and a 12MP landscape Center Stage front camera.
Audio: sound comes through the display, so there are no speaker holes.
Wireless: N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. Cellular models use Apple's C2 modem.
Charging: USB-C, 50% in about 30 minutes with a 35W or higher adapter.
Security: Touch ID in the top button.
How much faster is it?
Apple claims up to 60% faster CPU, up to 2.7x faster graphics and up to 4.5x faster AI performance than the A17 Pro iPad mini. Battery life is the same as the last model, according to Apple.
Should you upgrade?
Yes, if you use your mini outdoors, near water or for media. OLED and IP67 are big upgrades.
Maybe, if you have the A17 Pro model and mainly read or browse. Battery life has not changed.
Note the price. The base model is $699, compared with the old mini's $599 price after June.
What we could not confirm
RAM for each storage tier.
Prices for the 256 GB and 512 GB models.
Which Apple Pencil models it supports.
iPad mini OLED vs the previous iPad mini
Feature | New iPad mini OLED | Previous iPad mini (A17 Pro) |
|---|---|---|
Display | 8.5-inch OLED | 8.3-inch |
Brightness | 600 nits, 1,200 nits HDR peak | 500 nits |
Chip | A20 Pro | A17 Pro |
Water resistance | IP67 | Not rated |
Thickness | 5.4 mm | 6.3 mm |
Weight (Wi-Fi) | 0.56 lb | 0.65 lb |
Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E |
What comes in the box
In the US, the iPad mini ships with a 20W USB-C power adapter and a USB-C cable. For the fastest charging, Apple says you need a 35W or higher adapter, which is sold separately.
Cellular models also benefit from Apple's C2 modem, which Apple says gives up to 50% faster cellular data. The iPad mini also supports extended display mode with iPadOS 27.2, so you can connect it to an external monitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the iPad mini OLED have ProMotion?
ProMotion is not listed in Apple's tech specs, which points to a 60Hz display.
When does the iPad mini OLED come out?
It launches in stores on November 6, 2026. Pre-orders opened October 28.
How much is the iPad mini OLED?
It starts at $699 in the US for 128 GB.
Is the new iPad mini waterproof?
It is rated IP67 for water and dust resistance, a first for iPad mini.
Summary
The iPad mini OLED brings an 8.5-inch OLED screen, the A20 Pro chip, IP67 protection and Wi-Fi 7 to a thinner, lighter body. It starts at $699 and arrives on November 6, 2026.
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