The short version
- The new iPad mini runs Apple's A20 Pro, a 2nm chip with up to a 6-core CPU and a 7-core GPU.
- Apple claims up to 2.7x faster graphics and 60% faster multi-core CPU performance than the last model.
- It moves to an 8.5-inch OLED screen, is IP67 rated and starts at ₹82,900 in India ($699 in the US).
- Pre-orders open October 28, and it goes on sale November 6.
What's changed from the last mini
Image: Zerocade
This is the biggest redesign the mini has had since 2021. The screen, chip, speakers, water resistance and front camera position all change, and the tablet gets thinner and lighter, from 6.3mm to 5.4mm and from 0.65 to 0.56 pounds for the Wi-Fi model. Apple calls it the mini's "biggest update ever", and on the spec sheet that's fair.
The chip
The A20 Pro is built on Apple's newest 2nm process. Apple says it borrows packaging ideas from its M-series Mac chips. The GPU has 7 cores, each with its own Neural Accelerator for AI work. The 512GB model also gets a dual 16-core Neural Engine.
For games, the headline is the GPU. It supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading, plus Apple's dynamic caching, which hands GPU memory out as it's needed. Our mesh shading explainer covers why that matters. Apple also says memory bandwidth is more than double the old model's. The 128GB and 256GB models get a 5-core CPU, while the 512GB model gets the full 6-core version, so storage choice affects performance slightly.
These are Apple's own numbers against the previous iPad mini, which used an A17 Pro. Independent benchmarks will tell us more once units ship.
Image: Apple
Screen and design
The display grows from 8.3 to 8.5 inches by trimming the bezels, so the tablet's size doesn't change. It's OLED now, with 600 nits for everyday content, up to 1,200 nits for HDR and an optional nano-texture finish that cuts glare. It stays at 60Hz, though. There's no ProMotion, so scrolling and games won't get the smoother 120Hz motion of the iPad Pro. The body is 5.4mm thin, comes in midnight or starlight, and adds IP67 water and dust resistance. Cellular models use Apple's own C2 modem.
Image: Apple
Image: Apple
Image: Apple
Cameras, sound and connectivity
- Rear camera: 12MP Wide with Smart HDR 4, 4K video at up to 60fps and an Adaptive True Tone flash for photos and document scans.
- Front camera: 12MP Center Stage, now on the landscape edge, so you're centred on video calls while holding it sideways.
- Speakers: Apple calls it an Acoustic Display. Woofers work through the screen for more bass and volume, with custom tweeters for clearer highs.
- Wireless: Apple's N1 chip brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread.
- Cellular: the C2 modem promises up to 50% faster data than the last mini, with 5G and eSIM support.
Pencil, accessories and software
It works with both the Apple Pencil Pro ($129 in the US), which adds squeeze, barrel roll and Find My, and the cheaper Apple Pencil (USB-C) ($79). A new TechWoven Smart Folio ($79) comes in navy blue or taupe and adds more stand angles. India prices for the accessories weren't in Apple's announcement.
It ships with iPadOS 27, which brings freely resizable windows, window tiling and Exposé to the small screen. Apple's new Siri, in beta with iPadOS 27.2, supports English and five other languages.
Specs at a glance
| New iPad mini | |
|---|---|
| Chip | A20 Pro (2nm), up to 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU |
| Display | 8.5-inch OLED, 1,200 nits peak, optional nano-texture |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Cameras | 12MP rear (4K60 video), 12MP front Center Stage |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, optional 5G (C2 modem) |
| Build | 5.4mm thin, IP67, 100% recycled aluminium |
| Colours | Midnight, starlight |
Apple's announcement doesn't list RAM, battery life or weight.
Why it costs more
Image: Zerocade
The mini has had two price rises this year. It launched at $499 in 2024, went to $599 in June, and the new model starts at $699. In India, the jump is from ₹69,900 for the old 128GB model to ₹82,900 now, a ₹13,000 rise. Bloomberg had reported a $799 price before launch, so $699 is less than feared. It's now only $50 below the 11-inch iPad Air in the US, which has a bigger screen but an LCD panel.
India prices
| Model | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi + 5G |
|---|---|---|
| 128GB | ₹82,900 | ₹1,00,900 |
| 256GB | ₹94,900 | ₹1,12,900 |
| 512GB | ₹1,18,900 | ₹1,36,900 |
| 256GB nano-texture | ₹1,06,900 | ₹1,24,900 |
| 512GB nano-texture | ₹1,30,900 | ₹1,48,900 |
In the US, the Wi-Fi model is $699 and the cellular model is $849.
For gaming, on paper
This is the most capable gaming tablet Apple has made at this size. The A20 Pro is the same chip Apple uses in its new iPhone Duo foldable, so games built for Apple's top phones should run well, and console ports like Resident Evil and Assassin's Creed already run on Apple's Pro chips. The catch is the 60Hz screen, which caps what you see at 60fps, and the small battery any 8.5-inch tablet has to make do with.
Whether the GPU upgrade turns into better games depends on how many developers ship titles that use ray tracing and mesh shading on iPad. Pre-orders are open now, and units arrive from November 6, which is when independent benchmarks will show how much of Apple's 2.7x graphics claim holds up.
