Overview
- Apple opened preorders on Oct. 28 for the eighth‑generation iPad mini, which starts at $699 in the U.S. and is scheduled to ship and reach stores on Nov. 6.
- The refresh brings an 8.5‑inch Super Retina XDR OLED, the A20 Pro chip, IP67 water‑and‑dust resistance, an Acoustic Display audio system, a landscape‑oriented 12MP front camera, and new N1 wireless and C2 cellular modems.
- Apple is shipping different A20 Pro configurations by storage tier so the 128GB and 256GB models have a five‑core CPU while the 512GB model uses a six‑core CPU, which creates measurable capability differences across SKUs.
- Regional retail pricing is markedly higher than the prior model in some markets — for example India’s base price is Rs 82,900 versus Rs 49,900 for the 2024 mini (about a 66% increase) — and optional items like Apple Pencil Pro, nano‑texture glass, and Smart Folio can add hundreds of dollars to the total cost.
- Early hands‑on reviews praise the OLED screen, thin light design, and improved connectivity for readers, mobile creators and field professionals, but most outlets warn that the bigger price and accessory costs narrow the mini’s appeal to a smaller, premium audience and make trade‑in offers more important to buyers.