The new iPad mini swaps its LCD for OLED, grows from 8.3 to 8.5 inches and starts at $699. It is the largest change the small iPad has had since the 2021 redesign.
The chip is new too, and in one respect it is ahead of the Macs Apple launched the same week. Pre-orders opened on October 28 and it ships on November 6.
OLED Arrives on the Small iPad
The 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR panel is rated at 1,200 nits peak and 600 nits full screen, with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and P3 colour. Nano-texture glass is a paid option on this size for the first time.
Inside is the A20 Pro, built on a 2-nanometer process, with up to a 6-core CPU and a 7-core GPU carrying Neural Accelerators. The 512GB configuration adds a dual 16-core Neural Engine, so the top storage tier is quietly the faster machine.
The 12MP Center Stage front camera has moved to the landscape edge, which fixes the long complaint about video calls with the tablet held sideways. Both Apple Pencil (USB-C) at $79 and Apple Pencil Pro at $129 are supported.
- Display: 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 1,200 nits peak
- Chip: A20 Pro on a 2-nanometer process
- Front camera: 12MP Center Stage on the landscape edge
- Colours: midnight and starlight
New iPad mini Specs, Screen to Storage
| Specification | iPad mini |
|---|---|
| Display | 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Peak brightness | 1,200 nits, 600 nits full screen |
| Contrast | 2,000,000:1 |
| Chip | A20 Pro, 2nm |
| CPU | Up to 6-core |
| GPU | 7-core with Neural Accelerators |
| Rear camera | 12MP Wide, 4K at 60 fps |
| Front camera | 12MP Center Stage, landscape edge |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Pencil | Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro |
| Colours | Midnight, starlight |
| Options | Nano-texture glass |
New iPad mini Price and Storage Tiers
Three storage tiers, and the jump to 512GB buys more than space because of the extra Neural Engine. Cellular adds $150 across the range.
Pre-orders opened on Wednesday, October 28 and availability begins Friday, November 6 in 36 countries and regions. The full iPad mini tech specs list every configuration.
- Wi-Fi: from $699, or $58.25 a month over 12 months
- Wi-Fi plus Cellular: from $849
- Education: from $649
- Pencils: $79 for Apple Pencil (USB-C), $129 for Apple Pencil Pro
Is the New iPad mini Worth It?
For anyone replacing an older mini the answer is yes, and the two reasons are the ones you notice every day rather than in benchmarks: an OLED panel instead of a backlit LCD, and a front camera that is finally in the right place for calls.
The 128GB model at $699 suits most people. Buy 512GB only if you want the extra Neural Engine or you keep large files offline. If you use a tablet for real work alongside other apps, our guide to split screen on iPad is worth reading, and the iPad mini case roundup covers protection for the new size.
- Buy it if: you read, draw or travel with a tablet in one hand
- Skip it if: you mainly want a laptop replacement, where the larger iPads fit better
- Pick 512GB if: you want the dual 16-core Neural Engine, which the smaller tiers lack
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the new iPad mini?
$699 for Wi-Fi and $849 with cellular, both starting at 128GB. Education pricing starts at $649. Storage runs to 256GB and 512GB.
Does the new iPad mini have an OLED screen?
Yes. It uses an 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel rated at 1,200 nits peak brightness with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, replacing the LCD used on earlier models.
When is the new iPad mini released?
Pre-orders opened on October 28 and it goes on sale on Friday, November 6, in 36 countries and regions.
