Apple unveils OLED iPad mini with A20 Pro chip, from $699
Apple has announced a new iPad mini with an 8.5-inch OLED display and the A20 Pro chip. Pre-orders open on October 28 and first deliveries start on November 6.
- First OLED display on the iPad mini, 8.5 inches
- A20 Pro chip; 128GB and 256GB models get a five-core CPU, the 512GB model six
- US pricing starts at $699; pre-orders from October 28, deliveries from November 6
Apple announced a new iPad mini on October 26. It is the first model in the mini line to use an OLED display, and it replaces the 2024 model.
The screen measures 8.5 inches, up from 8.3 inches on the 2024 LCD model. According to GSMArena, it is a Super Retina XDR panel with 2,316 x 1,512 pixel resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate, so the mini still has no ProMotion. It has thinner bezels and up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness, and an optional nano-texture glass is available to reduce glare.
The tablet runs on Apple's A20 Pro chip, but the versions differ. GSMArena reports, citing Apple's specs page, that the 128GB and 256GB models have a five-core CPU, while the 512GB model has six. The lower-storage models have one fewer efficiency core and half the NPU power. Gulf News reports that Apple claims up to 60 per cent faster performance in certain tasks, graphics up to 2.7 times faster, and AI processing up to 4.5 times faster than the previous model.
The new mini is 5.4mm thick and weighs 255 grams, compared with 6.3mm and 297 grams for its predecessor. It has an IP67 rating, Wi-Fi 7, and 5G on the cellular version through Apple's C2 modem and eSIM. The battery is 18.9Wh. Apple says it can reach a 50 per cent charge in 30 minutes with a 35W or higher adapter, and the USB-C port transfers data at up to 10Gb/s.
Apple has moved the dual speakers under the display in what it calls an Acoustic Display setup, which it says gives more bass and volume. The 12-megapixel Center Stage camera now sits on the longer edge, which suits video calls when the tablet is held horizontally. The tablet supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C) and comes in Midnight and Starlight.
In the US, the 128GB Wi-Fi model costs $699, the 256GB model $799 and the 512GB model $999. European prices are €749, €879 and €1,129, and UK prices are £699, £799 and £999. In the UAE, Gulf News reports prices start at Dh2,849 for Wi-Fi and Dh3,449 for Wi-Fi + Cellular.
Pre-orders open on October 28, with first deliveries on November 6. It runs iPadOS 27, and Gulf News notes that some Siri features depend on a later software update and may not be available in every country or language.
Why it matters
Apple devices are sold in Pakistan, and buyers here follow new iPad launches. The reports give prices only for the US, Europe, the UK and the UAE, not for Pakistan.
