Apple prices new iPad mini at $699 with OLED screen

Apple has introduced the 8th-generation iPad mini, raising the starting price to $699 while replacing the previous IPS panel with an OLED display. The company describes this refresh as the most substantial update in the product line's history, driven by new display technology and a faster processor.

The physical dimensions remain nearly identical to the 2024 model, but the bezels are 24 percent thinner. This change allows for an 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR screen, up from 8.3 inches. The device is also 0.9 millimeters thinner than its predecessor, measuring 5.4 millimeters in total thickness. Apple has added an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, a feature absent from the 7th-generation mini.

The display brightness now peaks at 1,200 nits, compared to 500 nits on the older model. It can dim to 1 nit for low-light viewing. Customers can choose a standard finish or a nano-textured matte option. These specifications align the mini's visual performance more closely with Apple's Pro-tier devices.

Under the hood, the new tablet uses the 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip. This processor previously powered the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. It replaces the 3-nanometer A17 Pro chip found in the last mini, which was a year old when it debuted in that tablet. The A20 Pro offers a 50 percent increase in memory bandwidth, a factor that notably improved graphics performance in the iPhone 18 Pro.

The pricing increase of $70 reflects the shift to OLED and the newer silicon. The new iPad mini offers a larger active screen area and improved durability without a major change in the device's overall footprint.