Apple has kicked off a busy launch week with a new iPad mini. Announced on October 26, the new iPad mini gets a larger 8.5-inch OLED screen and the A20 Pro chip. For the first time, it’s also water and dust resistant. However, it costs more, with prices starting at $699 in the US.
At a glance
What Is New in the iPad mini
The biggest change is the display. First, the new iPad mini moves from an LCD to an 8.5-inch OLED panel. It reaches up to 1,200 nits of brightness for HDR content. There’s also an optional nano-texture glass that reduces glare. However, it costs $100 extra and only comes with the 256GB and 512GB models.
Inside, the A20 Pro chip is up to 60% faster than the A17 Pro in the previous model. Graphics are also up to 2.7 times faster. Meanwhile, the tablet is about 15% thinner and lighter. Thanks to its IP67 rating, it can also survive dust and water. In addition, Wi-Fi 7 and an optional 5G model come on board.
Previous iPad mini
Screen8.3-inch LCD
ChipA17 Pro
Water resistanceNone
Starting price$599
New iPad mini
Screen8.5-inch OLED
ChipA20 Pro
Water resistanceIP67
Starting price$699
Price and Release Date
The Wi-Fi model with 128GB of storage starts at $699 in the US and £699 in the UK. In Germany, it starts at €749, while the cellular version costs from €919. In the US, that’s $100 more than the previous model, which already went up from $499 to $599 earlier this year.
Pre-orders open on Wednesday, October 28, and the tablet arrives in stores on Friday, November 6. It comes in two colours, Midnight and Starlight.
Good to knowApple has more launches planned this week, including new Mac models. Our preview of Apple’s October 28 announcements covers what’s expected.
How to Pay With an Apple Gift Card
If you’d rather not use a bank card, an Apple Gift Card is a simple way to pay. In many countries, such as the US and the UK, the same card works in the Apple Store. It also covers the App Store and subscriptions like iCloud+. Just pick the card for the country of your Apple Account.
26 countries
Apple Gift Cards
Apple gift cards for Europe, the UK, the US and many more countries. Pick the card for the country of your Apple Account.
Shop Apple Gift CardsPopular options include the US card, the UK card and the Germany card. For more ways to pay, see our guide on how to use Apple without a bank card.
