Overview
- Apple announced the new iPad mini on Monday with an 8.5‑inch Super Retina XDR OLED that delivers up to 1,200 nits peak HDR brightness and an optional nano‑texture finish for reduced glare.
- The tablet is powered by the A20 Pro chip and uses different CPU and Neural Engine configurations by storage tier, with Apple claiming big generational gains in CPU, GPU and on‑device AI performance.
- Apple confirmed new hardware including an IP67 water and dust rating, a display‑integrated “Acoustic Display” speaker system, a landscape Center Stage front camera, and Wi‑Fi 7 plus a C2 modem for faster cellular speeds.
- The iPad mini remains a 60Hz device with no ProMotion, and Apple set U.S. pricing at $699 for the Wi‑Fi model and $849 for Wi‑Fi + Cellular, with preorders from Oct. 28 and store availability on Nov. 6.
- The announcement came days before Apple’s Oct. 28 Pro and Tell event and recalibrates expectations after rumors that predicted a higher $799 starting price, raising questions about how the mini will sit alongside iPad Air and iPad Pro.