Initial reviews of the redesigned tablet highlight its brighter screen, enhanced audio and slimmer frame while questioning its $699 price.
First reviews of Apple’s redesigned iPad mini arrived ahead of the tablet’s November 6, 2026 release, examining its move to an OLED screen, a thinner frame and a higher starting price. According to TechRadar, the new 8.5-inch device represents a major step forward for Apple’s smallest tablet, even though the higher cost and lack of high-refresh ProMotion technology draw criticism.
Apple unveiled the eighth-generation tablet in late October with an upgraded processor, water resistance and a larger screen. Preorders opened on October 28.
Upgraded screen and slimmer frame
The shift to an 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display marks the most visible change from the 8.3-inch LCD panel on the previous version. The screen offers a resolution of 2316 by 1512 with reduced borders around the glass. Peak HDR brightness reaches 1,200 nits, which is double the previous generation, while standard brightness climbs from 500 to 600 nits and minimum brightness drops to 1 nit. Contrast reaches 2,000,000 to 1, compared to roughly 1000 to 1 on older LCDs, Engadget reported.
Apple also introduced an optional nano-texture glass finish that scatters reflections in bright environments, packaged with an included polishing cloth. That glass upgrade adds $100, or £100 in the UK and AU$200 in Australia, and is limited to models with at least 256GB of storage.
Both reviews noted that the display refresh rate remains capped at 60Hz. The tablet does not include the 120Hz ProMotion technology found on iPad Pro models, which reviewers described as a letdown after Apple brought high-refresh screens to the iPhone 17 in 2025.
The tablet’s physical measurements shrank despite the larger display area. The new body measures 5.4 millimeters thick, down from about 6.3 millimeters on the prior model, though TechRadar measured the profile at 5.33 millimeters. Total weight dropped to about 254 or 255 grams, or 0.56 pounds, for the Wi-Fi variant, down from 295 grams. The cellular edition weighs 263 grams, or 0.58 pounds. External finishes are limited to Starlight and Midnight, dropping the purple and blue tones available on the 2024 model.
Internal hardware and sound system
Under the hood, the tablet runs on the A20 Pro processor, the same chip Apple introduced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. The chip replaces the A17 Pro found in the previous mini. Review tests showed the device easily handled demanding workloads, Apple intelligence features, photo editing and gaming ports such as Control and No Man’s Sky.
The device uses an Apple N1 chip to support Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread connectivity. Cellular configurations use an Apple C2 modem for 5G Sub-6GHz and Gigabit LTE service. An 18.9Wh battery powers the tablet, which approached Apple’s 10-hour battery life claim during testing. The tablet also adopted fast-charging capabilities, becoming the second iPad to support fast charging after the iPad Pro.
Apple altered the audio setup by introducing an Acoustic Display design. The system positions tweeters and woofers underneath the screen enclosure rather than cutting speaker grilles into the outer edges, providing deeper bass and clearer sound. Eliminating the external speaker holes also allowed Apple to give the mini an IP67 rating against water and dust intrusion, a first for an iPad.
The front-facing 12-megapixel Center Stage camera moved to the landscape top edge, matching the orientation of other current iPads. The device still relies on Touch ID inside the power button rather than Face ID.
Pricing and release details
The tablet starts at $699, £699 or AU$1,099 for the 128GB Wi-Fi base model. That represents a $200 increase over the launch price of the 2024 model, though it sits $100 higher than the price following Apple’s price increases earlier this year.
Cellular models begin at $849, £849 or AU$1,349. Choosing the nano-texture glass requires purchasing at least the 256GB version, pushing the base price of that screen option to $899, or $1,049 with cellular. A top-tier 512GB cellular model with nano-texture glass reaches $1,099. The tablet launches in retail stores on November 6, 2026.
