ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The new iPad Mini has an OLED screen for higher quality and contrast.
- An optional nano-texture display glass reduces glare and reflections.
- The new Mini starts at $799, $100 more than the current model.
It’s finally here. Apple has unveiled the latest generation of its iPad Mini a full two years after the last upgrade of the tablet. The new mini-model of the 8.
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First, here are the details you need to know.
Generation iPad Mini starts at $699 with 128 GB of storage. That’s a full $200 over the original price of the 2024 model and $100 over the current price. In June, Apple raised prices on its entire iPad and MacBook lineup, citing higher costs and lower availability of memory and storage chips.
What’s new in the latest iPad mini
The new iPad Mini offers an OLED display for the first time in its career. All current iPhones come with OLED screens. But among Apple’s tablets, only the iPad Pro sports this type of display. An OLED screen is considered superior to the LED screens found on previous iPad Mini models, as well as the standard iPad and iPad Air.
OLED displays tend to be slimmer. Black colors are more correct. And the power consumption is less. Combine OLED with the new Mini Super Retina XDR display and XDR brightness, and the screen promises better overall quality and contrast.
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The new Mini’s display is also slightly larger, coming in at 8.5 inches versus the 8.3-inch screen in the 2024 model. Even more interesting though, the new version offers a nano-texture display glass but only as a $100 option for the 256GB and 512GB versions. What does that mean?
A nano-textured display glass reduces the glare and reflections you normally see under bright sunlight or unfiltered indoor lighting. However, this type of glass can reduce the vibrancy and sharpness of the screen. Plus, it requires a special type of cleaning cloth, which Apple includes if you spend the extra $100 for this option. If you use your tablet in bright light and are bothered by glare, consider the nano-texture display glass. If not, you’d be better off sticking with standard glass.
Next, the 2026 iPad Mini will be powered by an A20 Pro processor, a big jump over the A17 chip found in the 2024 flavor. The A20 Pro not only delivers faster performance, but also greater energy efficiency.
The front-facing center stage camera on the new Mini now works in landscape mode. This means you can use it more easily for video calls and virtual meetings.
Why these upgrades are important to me
Throw in a few more updates like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 using the Apple N1 wireless network chip, an acoustic display for better stereo sound, and faster charging, and this is an upgrade worth considering despite the higher price.
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As for me, I currently have an iPad Mini 6. My current iPad is stuck with an A15 Bionic chip, which means it doesn’t support Apple Intelligence or the new Siri AI. My current model also uses Wi-Fi 6 while I have since upgraded my home network to Wi-Fi 7. The only downside is that the iPad Mini 8 still saddles you with Touch ID. I wish Apple would switch the Mini to Face ID, but I think that would increase the cost even more.
Although I’m tempted to pre-order the new Mini on Wednesday, I’m anxious to see it in action and try it out at my local Apple Store when it hits the shelves on November 6. I’ve been waiting this long to replace my existing Mini, so I can wait a few more weeks.