A larger OLED screen in the same footprint
Apple unveiled a redesigned iPad mini on the October 26 event date, moving its smallest tablet to an 8.5-inch OLED display while retaining the footprint of the previous model. The company says thinner bezels helped create the extra screen area and that the device itself is now 5.4 millimeters thick. It will be offered in midnight and starlight finishes.
The display is rated for up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness and 600 nits across the full screen for standard- and high-dynamic-range material. Apple also lists a 2,000,000-to-one contrast ratio, P3 color support and a minimum brightness of one nit. A nano-texture option is available for customers who want reduced glare in bright surroundings.
The tablet carries an IP67 water- and dust-resistance rating, a first for this iPad mini generation. Apple says an enclosed audio system helped make that protection possible. The audio design pairs woofers through the display with tweeters placed between the glass and aluminum enclosure.
New processor, cameras and connectivity
The iPad mini is powered by Apple's A20 Pro processor. Depending on configuration, the chip includes up to a six-core CPU, a seven-core GPU and neural acceleration in every GPU core. Apple claims up to 60 percent faster multithreaded CPU performance, up to 2.7 times faster graphics and up to 4.5 times faster AI performance than the prior mini. Those figures are manufacturer benchmarks and may vary with workload and configuration.
A 12-megapixel Center Stage front camera has moved to the landscape edge, positioning it for video calls when the tablet is held horizontally. The rear remains a 12-megapixel wide camera, with support for 4K video at up to 60 frames per second and an Adaptive True Tone flash.
Apple's N1 networking chip brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. Cellular editions use the company's C2 modem system, which Apple says can deliver up to 50 percent faster cellular data than the previous generation while using power more efficiently. Fast charging is also supported.
The device ships with iPadOS 27 and its latest Apple Intelligence and Siri features. Apple says the software can use personal context, on-screen information and general knowledge when responding to requests. As with other generative features, actual availability may depend on language, region and account settings.
Preorders for the tablet and a new Smart Folio begin Wednesday, October 28, according to Apple, with general availability scheduled for Friday, November 6. The announcement did not make independent performance testing available, so the claimed gains will need to be assessed once review units reach testers.
