Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full Ethics & Affiliate Relationship Disclaimer.
Apple just gave the iPad mini its biggest update ever. OLED, water resistance, a way faster chip, and the speaker holes are gone because the speakers are under the display now.
I use my iPad mini for notes, to-do lists, and scrolling or browsing on the couch. There’s a lot I like about the new one, and a couple things that are a huge disappointment. Here’s what’s new, what it costs, and whether I’d trade in an A17 Pro mini for it.
This is the biggest iPad mini update ever and I’m pre-ordering one. But it’s stuck at 60Hz and starts at $699 with 128GB. If you already have an A17 Pro mini and use it all the time, now’s a good time to trade in and upgrade.
- OLED that peaks at 1,200 nits and dims down to 1 nit
- IP67, so it can sit under a meter of water for up to 30 minutes
- A20 Pro, up to 60% faster CPU and 2.7x graphics (Apple’s claim)
- Fast charging, 50% in about 30 minutes
- Still capped at 60Hz
- $699 to start, and that’s only 128GB
- 600 nits for standard content, not the iPad Pro’s 1,000
- The 35W or 40W adapter you need for fast charging isn’t in the box
Specs and price
| iPad mini (A20 Pro, 2026) | |
|---|---|
| Price | $699 (128GB), $799 (256GB), $999 (512GB) |
| Display | 8.5 inch OLED (up from 8.3), 60Hz |
| Brightness | 600 nits standard, 1,200 nits peak, down to 1 nit |
| Nano-texture | $100 more, 256GB and 512GB only |
| Chip | A20 Pro, same as the iPhone 18 Pro |
| 512GB model | One extra CPU core and the dual Neural Engine |
| Apple’s speed claim | Up to 60% faster CPU and 2.7x faster graphics than the last mini |
| Water resistance | IP67, up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes |
| Front camera | 12MP Center Stage, on the landscape side, no 4K |
| Wireless | Apple N1: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 |
| Port | 10 gig USB 3, one external display |
| Battery | About 10 hours, 50% in about 30 minutes with a 35W or 40W adapter (20W in the box) |
| Cellular | $150 more |
| Colors | Midnight and starlight |
Need help picking any Apple gear? Tell me how you’d use it and I’ll give you a personalized pick.
Design and water resistance
The new mini is thinner and lighter than ever. Apple says it’s 14% thinner and 13% lighter than the last iPad mini, and they’re calling it the lightest iPad ever. It only comes in two colors now, midnight and starlight, which I think is fine.
Apple also added IP67 water resistance. It can sit under a meter of water for up to 30 minutes, which is impressive for any device, let alone an iPad mini.
The volume buttons and Touch ID are in the same spot on the top side, just like the last one. Reaching up to use the volume has always felt a little funny to me. And there’s still no Face ID on the iPad mini, which is a letdown.
The Acoustic Display speakers
Apple got rid of the speaker holes. They’re calling it the Acoustic Display: the woofers fire through the screen and the tweeters are hidden around the edge of the display. That’s exciting tech, and I’d like to see it come to other models too.
I can’t wait to hear it, because Apple has historically done an excellent job with the built-in speakers on its devices. I hope it holds up and sounds great, since my current mini is lacking a bit of oomph.
The OLED display
The OLED iPad mini isn’t a myth anymore. The screen is 8.5 inches, up from 8.3 on the last one, so it’ll have the same feel and look with thinner bezels.
It peaks at 1,200 nits, which Apple says is more than twice as bright as the last one, and it goes down to 1 nit. That’s going to be awesome for using it at night. It’s going to be a beautiful display.
You can add nano-texture for $100 more, but only on the 256 or 512 gig models. I like that it’s an option. I’m not going to buy it.
A couple things about the display do bother me. Standard content tops out at 600 nits, the same as the 13 inch iPad Air. 600 is better than 500, but the 1,000 nits of standard brightness on the iPad Pro is amazing outside. That’s the main reason I grab my iPad Pro any time I’m using an iPad outdoors. It stands out in daylight better.
The 60Hz catch
I’m glad we finally get OLED on an iPad mini, but it’s capped at 60Hz. I don’t usually care about 120Hz vs 60Hz. Giving us an OLED display and leaving it at 60Hz is kind of an insult, though.
The iPad mini is super popular with note takers. 120Hz would make a lot of sense with the Apple Pencil Pro and hover, since you’d see your writing show up on screen faster and it’d feel that much more natural. Day-to-day browsing and reading would feel smoother too.
Some people say Apple’s saving ProMotion for the iPad Pro. Well, the iPad Pro and the iPad mini are completely different devices, and a lot of iPad Pro owners are willing to buy an iPad mini too. Apple wouldn’t be hurting itself by putting 120Hz in this one. I don’t know if there’s an iPad mini Pro coming later, but the time for 120Hz on the mini is now, and I feel let down that it’s missing.
Chip, cameras, ports and battery
Apple put the A20 Pro in this, the same chip from the iPhone 18 Pro, and I appreciate that it’s the latest generation. Apple says it’s up to 60% faster on the CPU and 2.7x faster on graphics than the last mini. That’s nice, because the iPadOS 26 update made my iPad mini feel a bit sluggish compared to how it used to feel.
The front camera finally moved to the landscape side, which I’ve liked on all the other iPads. It’s still 12 megapixels with Center Stage, and there’s no 4K on the front. The back camera is basically the same as the last model, but Apple added a better flash for scanning documents.
It has Apple’s N1 chip, so you get Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The port is still 10 gig USB 3 and it still supports one external display. With iPadOS 27.2 you get extended display mode, so it won’t just mirror the iPad’s screen anymore. That’s a huge upgrade, and it’ll make the iPad feel a bit more like a computer.
It works with the Apple Pencil Pro or the Apple Pencil (USB-C). Apple still says you’ll get about 10 hours of battery life, and it finally has fast charging: 50% in about 30 minutes if you have a 35W or 40W power adapter. Apple only includes the 20W one in the box. Siri AI is on here too, and I’m glad it has that.
Pricing
Apple raised the price. It’s $699 for 128GB, which hurts. It’s $799 for 256GB and $999 for 512GB.
The 512GB model is where it gets interesting. It adds an extra CPU core, which won’t matter for most people, and the dual Neural Engine, like the M6 Mac mini has. So you do get a lot for the extra $300. I still feel strongly that Apple should start every iPad at 256GB in 2026.
Cellular is another $150. Max it out with 512GB and nano-texture and you’re at $1,099 for an iPad mini before you add cellular. And $699 to start with 128GB feels like too much to me. That’s a lot of money for an iPad mini.
Trade in or wait?
I’ve got an A17 Pro iPad mini. Apple’s offering $340 in trade-in for the 128GB A17 Pro, which gets the 256GB model I’m leaning toward down to $459. On eBay the A17 Pro is going for $350 to $400, and after fees and shipping the trade-in comes out about the same. The trade-in is way easier.
If you already have an A17 Pro and you use it all the time, I’d say this is a good time to trade in and upgrade.
I’m still debating which one to get. The 512GB is tempting for the extra power and to keep it for the long haul, because the iPad mini doesn’t get updated very often. Apple put its latest chip in this with an amazing display, and I think this’ll be the iPad mini for the next 2 to 3 years. So it’s not a bad time to buy one if you’re interested.
What’s still missing
I’ll probably buy the Smart Folio and pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard. I really wish Apple made a cute first-party keyboard case for the mini, because I love using a trackpad and keyboard with iPadOS. If Apple made one, I’d probably pay whatever it costs. And if a brand wants to partner with me on the ultimate iPad mini keyboard case, I’d love to do that.
A few more things would’ve made this feel almost like an iPad mini Pro:
- A Thunderbolt port for better expansion
- 120Hz, so the Pencil, hover and everyday browsing feel smoother
- A slightly bigger battery. The mini is the portable iPad you take everywhere, so I think Apple should prioritize battery life even a little over slimming it down
- Face ID someday
Everything Apple put in this is great. It’s just missing a little something to give it that ultra premium feel.
Who should buy it
If you want a more laptop-like feel from your iPad, get an iPad Air or an iPad Pro. The iPad mini is for supplemental apps, reading and browsing, and it’s still going to be an awesome portable device.
| Get the new iPad mini if | Look elsewhere if |
|---|---|
| You have an A17 Pro mini and use it all the time | You want a laptop-like feel (get an iPad Air or iPad Pro) |
| You use a mini for notes, reading and browsing | You use an iPad outside a lot (the iPad Pro’s 1,000 nits stands out in daylight) |
| You want a mini that’ll last the next 2 to 3 years | $699 for 128GB is more than you want to spend on a mini |
The bottom line
Overall, I’m excited about the new iPad mini and I’m pre-ordering one. OLED, IP67, the A20 Pro and the new speakers are big upgrades. The 60Hz screen and the $699 starting price are what hold it back. My full review is coming once mine shows up.
Still deciding? My full 2026 iPad lineup comparison covers the Air and Pro, and my Logitech Keys-To-Go 2 review covers a slim Bluetooth keyboard for an iPad. Or tell me how you’d use it and I’ll give you a personalized pick.
[DRAFT PLACEHOLDER, delete before publishing: [BLOG GENI.US LINK: new iPad mini] for the summary box, buy button and buy box. The video description still has no product code, so there’s nothing to make a Blog copy from yet.]
