The iPad mini A20 Pro is Apple’s new small tablet. It has an 8.5-inch OLED screen, IP67 water resistance, and a starting price of $699. TechCrunch reports pre-orders open October 28, and it ships November 6.
Here are the numbers that matter most if you only have a few seconds.
- Announced October 26, 2026; pre-orders start October 28; on sale November 6.
- Price: $699 for Wi-Fi, $849 for Wi-Fi plus cellular.
- Screen: 8.5-inch OLED, up to 1,200 nits in HDR.
- It is Apple’s first water-resistant iPad, rated IP67.
- It ships with iPadOS 27.
That list is the short version. The details below show where Apple made real upgrades and where it quietly held back.
What the iPad mini A20 Pro changes from the 2024 model
Compared with the 2024 model, the screen is the big story. OLED means deeper blacks and far better contrast, and Apple quotes a 2,000,000:1 ratio. Here is how the two generations line up.
| Spec | iPad mini (2024) | New iPad mini (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 8.3-inch LCD, 500 nits | 8.5-inch OLED, 600 nits SDR, 1,200 nits HDR peak |
| Chip | A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU | A20 Pro, 7-core GPU, 5 or 6 CPU cores by storage |
| Thickness | 6.3 mm | 5.4 mm |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 |
| Water resistance | None | IP67 |
| Starting price | $499 at launch, later $599 | $699 (Wi-Fi), $849 (cellular) |
The new body is also thinner and lighter. According to Deal N Tech, the Wi-Fi model is about 38 grams lighter than the old one. For a tablet you hold one-handed on the couch or the train, that adds up.
Only the 512GB model gets the full A20 Pro
Apple says the A20 Pro is up to 60% faster in multithreaded work and up to 4.5 times faster for AI tasks than last year’s chip. Those are Apple’s own “up to” claims, though, and not every configuration hits them.
According to Deal N Tech, the 128GB and 256GB models use a 5-core CPU and a single 16-core Neural Engine. Only the 512GB model gets a 6-core CPU and a dual Neural Engine. All models share the 7-core GPU.
The practical takeaway: the base model likely won’t match Apple’s top multithreaded numbers. For reading, browsing and video, you won’t notice. For heavy on-device AI work, the 512GB model is the one Apple is aiming at.
Why the $699 price tag stings
A $699 starting price is $200 above the 2024 launch price of $499. Apple has now raised the price twice this year, according to MacRumors. The previous model reached $599 after a June increase.
You do get more for the money: OLED, IP67, Wi-Fi 7 and a brighter screen. But if you only read and stream, the old model’s price drop may look tempting. If you want the newest tablet, expect to pay more for storage, since Deal N Tech reports the nano-texture glass adds $100 and is limited to the 256GB and 512GB models.
If you’re watching Apple’s other launches this week, our guide to the Apple Pro and Tell event on October 28 covers what else may land.
Battery, charging and what is missing
Battery life is rated at up to 10 hours, the same as before, from a slightly smaller 18.9Wh cell. Fast charging gets you to about 50% in 30 minutes, but only with a 35W or stronger adapter, which Apple sells separately.
One thing is not listed: ProMotion. Deal N Tech reports the panel runs at 60Hz, citing GSMArena. Apple hasn’t promised a faster refresh rate, so treat that as the working assumption until reviews arrive.
The tablet ships with iPadOS 27. If you want to know what the software gets next, see our post on iOS 27.2, its release date and new features.
The audio and camera upgrades you will actually notice
Apple calls the speaker setup “Acoustic Display,” with woofers built into the screen itself. It is a new design for the mini, so early reviews will show how loud and full it sounds.
The 12MP Center Stage front camera sits on the landscape edge, so video calls look natural when the tablet is on a stand or keyboard case. That matters if you use it for meetings more than for drawing.
Connectivity moves up too. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 come from Apple’s N1 chip, and cellular models use the C2 modem, according to Deal N Tech. Faster Wi-Fi helps most if you already own a Wi-Fi 7 router.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I buy the new iPad mini?
Pre-orders start October 28. Deliveries and in-store sales begin November 6.
How much does the new iPad mini cost?
It starts at $699 for the Wi-Fi model and $849 for Wi-Fi plus cellular. Prices rise with more storage and with the optional nano-texture display.
Is the new iPad mini waterproof?
It is IP67 rated, so it resists dust and water splashes or brief dunking. Think of it as protection from spills and rain, not a swim-ready tablet.
Does the iPad mini have a 120Hz screen?
Apple has not listed ProMotion. Deal N Tech reports a 60Hz panel, so don’t expect 120Hz.
Buy it if you want the best small tablet and can live with the price. The OLED screen and water resistance are real upgrades. If you mostly read and stream, a cheaper older iPad mini is the smarter spend. Pay for 512GB only if you plan to run AI-heavy apps, since that is the only model with the full chip.
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