Apple unveils OLED iPad mini at $699, with preorders opening October 28
The 8.5-inch tablet adds an A20 Pro chip and water resistance. It costs $100 more than the previous model at its starting price, with sales beginning November 6.
Apple unveiled a new iPad mini on October 26 in Cupertino, California, adding an 8.5-inch OLED screen, an A20 Pro chip and water resistance to its smallest tablet. The Wi-Fi model starts at US$699, US$100 above the previous model’s starting price, making the display upgrade a more expensive entry point for buyers.
The OLED screen is larger than the previous iPad mini’s display, according to Apple, and a nano-texture option is available for reducing glare in bright settings. Apple says peak brightness is more than twice that of the previous generation. TechCrunch reports a peak of up to 1,200 nits and full-screen brightness of 600 nits for both standard and high dynamic range content.
How the new iPad mini compares
The redesigned tablet is 5.4 millimetres thick and weighs 255 grams, according to 9to5Mac. Its predecessor measured 6.3 millimetres and weighed 297 grams. Those changes make the new model 0.9 millimetres thinner and 42 grams lighter, while the A20 Pro replaces the previous model’s A17 Pro chip, as Bloomberg News reported in The Straits Times.
Apple describes the new iPad mini as resistant to splashes, water and dust. Its IP67 rating means it was tested under controlled laboratory conditions at a depth of up to one metre for up to 30 minutes; Apple says that resistance can diminish over time. Bloomberg News reported that this is the first iPad with an IP67 rating.
The update also brings a 12-megapixel Center Stage front camera, according to TechCrunch. 9to5Mac reports a 12-megapixel rear camera capable of recording 4K video at up to 60 frames per second, support for Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), and Wi-Fi 7 through Apple’s N1 networking chip. Cellular versions use Apple’s C2 modem.
iPad mini prices and release dates
The Wi-Fi and cellular model starts at US$849, TechCrunch reports. Bloomberg News says storage choices range from 128 gigabytes to half a terabyte, with configurations reaching US$1,099. The new starting price compares with US$599 for the previous iPad mini; the nano-texture screen is an additional display choice, though the cited price figures do not establish its cost.
Apple says preorders begin Wednesday, October 28, in 36 countries and regions including the United States. The tablet is scheduled to reach customers and Apple Store locations on Friday, November 6. Those dates separate the announcement from when buyers can place an order and receive the device.
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Sources and context
- Apple unveils all-new iPad mini: OLED, thinner design, more9to5Mac
- Apple unveils new iPad mini with OLED display and faster A20 Pro chipTechCrunch
- Apple debuts US$699 water-resistant iPad Mini with OLED screenBloomberg News (republished by The Straits Times)
- Apple gives iPad mini its biggest update everApple Newsroom
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.