Overview
- Apple announced the iPad mini 8 on October 26, 2026, equipping it with an 8.5‑inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel that has a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, up to 1,200 nits peak brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate.
- The new A20 Pro system chip uses a 2nm process and, according to Apple, brings up to 60% higher multithread CPU performance, up to 2.7x GPU gains and up to 4.5x faster AI tasks versus the prior mini, with different chip configurations tied to storage tiers.
- Hands‑on measurements reported by IT之家 confirm a 5.4mm body that Apple says is 14% thinner and 13% lighter than the iPad mini 7, with bezels narrowed about 24%, two finish options, IP67 water resistance and support for Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB‑C).
- Wireless and imaging upgrades include Apple’s N1 wireless chip for Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread, an Apple C2 baseband with eSIM and claimed cellular speeds up to 50% faster, plus a 12MP rear camera able to record 4K 60fps and a 12MP front camera with Center Stage placed on the long edge for 1080P 60fps video.
- China retail pricing reported by IT之家 lists the iPad mini 8 from ¥5,499 for the 128GB Wi‑Fi model to ¥9,299 for the 512GB Wi‑Fi+Cellular model, a rollout that will be watched for how Apple prices premium compact tablets in other markets.