Apple's New iPad Mini Gets an OLED Screen and IP67 at $699
Apple has introduced a redesigned iPad mini featuring an 8.5-inch OLED display, an A20 Pro processor, and official IP67 water resistance for the first time on an Apple tablet. The updated hardware arrives in a slimmer 5.4 mm chassis, though the starting price climbs to $699.
OLED arrives on the small screen, with one familiar omission
The standout hardware shift sits right up front: the new iPad mini trades its aged LCD for an 8.5-inch OLED panel. The upgrade brings standard OLED benefits like true blacks and virtually infinite contrast to Apple's smallest tablet format. Apple is also offering a matte nano-texture glass option for the first time on the mini line, aiming at readers and sketchers who deal with heavy glare.
There is a catch that power users will spot immediately. Despite borrowing the flagship A20 Pro silicon, the panel still lacks ProMotion. Sticking with a standard 60 Hz refresh rate keeps the compact tablet firmly separated from the iPad Pro tier, even as its starting price moves considerably higher.
iPad mini (A20 Pro): size, display, price and release date
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Display | 8.5-inch OLED (optional nano-texture) |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz (no ProMotion) |
| Processor | A20 Pro |
| Thickness | 5.4 mm |
| Water resistance | IP67 |
| Base storage | 128 GB |
| Starting price | $699 |
| Pre-order date | October 28, 2026 |
| Release date | November 6, 2026 |
A thinner chassis and the first water-resistant iPad
Durability has taken a different turn this cycle. While Apple's hardware team tackled flexible glass and hinge dynamics in our Apple iPhone Duo review, the mini preserves a traditional rigid form factor while paring down thickness to a remarkable 5.4 mm. More notably, it becomes the first iPad to achieve an official IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
That rating means the tablet can withstand submersion in up to one meter of fresh water for 30 minutes. For an ultra-portable device often used poolside, in kitchens, or out in field work, sealed gaskets are a welcome, long-overdue addition.
Giving the iPad mini an A20 Pro chip and an OLED screen makes it a pocket powerhouse, but leaving out ProMotion at a $699 price point is frustrating. For that much money, smooth scrolling should be standard equipment, not an exclusive badge reserved for Pro buyers.
Availability and pricing
In the United States, the new iPad mini starts at $699 for the 128 GB base configuration. Pre-orders begin on Wednesday, October 28, with widespread retail availability and customer deliveries scheduled for Friday, November 6.
International retail pricing in the UK and European Union typically reflects local VAT and regional distribution costs, placing the starting threshold slightly higher than a direct currency conversion.
With an 8.5-inch OLED display, an IP67 rating, and desktop-class silicon inside a 5.4 mm body, the new iPad mini is easily the most capable compact tablet Apple has produced. The only real barrier is that new $699 price floor.
Frequently asked questions
Does the new iPad mini support 120Hz ProMotion?
No, the new iPad mini sticks to a 60 Hz refresh rate. Even with the upgrade to an OLED panel and an A20 Pro chip, ProMotion remains exclusive to Apple's Pro lineup.
Is the new iPad mini waterproof?
It features an IP67 rating, making it the first water-resistant iPad. It can survive splashes, spills, and brief immersion in fresh water up to one meter deep for 30 minutes.
How much does the new iPad mini cost and when does it ship?
Pricing starts at $699 for the 128 GB model. Pre-orders open on October 28, 2026, and orders will begin arriving in stores and customer hands on November 6, 2026.
Sources
- Apple unveils all-new iPad mini: OLED, thinner design, more. 9to5Mac, 2026. https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/26/new-ipad-mini-features-release-date-price/
- Apple unveils all-new iPad mini: OLED, thinner design, more - 9to5Mac. t.co, 2026. https://t.co/S11KePf8oG
- Apple Unveils New iPad mini with OLED Display, A20 Pro Chip, and Water Resistance. X gündemi: iPad mini, 2026. https://x.com/9to5mac/status/2114706137396269329