Apple has unveiled a redesigned iPad mini with an OLED display, its A20 Pro chip and an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, and says it is the model's biggest update ever.
The tablet starts at $699 for the Wi-Fi version and $849 with cellular, according to Apple's press release.
The outgoing model started at $599.
Pre-orders open on Wednesday 28 October in 36 countries and regions, including the US, with deliveries from Friday 6 November.
Dave Pakula, Apple's vice president of Hardware Engineering, said the new iPad mini was "a huge leap forward" for users who want the full iPad experience in the palm of their hand.
Display and design
The screen grows to 8.5 inches while keeping the same footprint, thanks to bezels that are 24% thinner.
OLED panels light each pixel individually, which allows deeper blacks.
Peak brightness reaches 1,200 nits, more than twice the previous generation, with a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1.
There is also a nano-texture option that reduces glare.
The device is 5.4mm thick and comes in midnight and starlight.
The IP67 rating covers immersion to a depth of one metre for up to 30 minutes, though Apple says the protection is not permanent and liquid damage is not covered by warranty.
Performance
A20 Pro is built on a 2-nanometre process, which packs transistors more densely.
Apple claims up to 4.5 times faster AI performance than the previous generation, up to 2.7 times faster graphics and up to 60% faster multithreaded processing.
The dual 16-core Neural Engine, which handles AI tasks, comes only in the 512GB configuration.
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The tablet runs iPadOS 27, with Siri AI available in beta, though not in the EU.
Other features
A 12-megapixel Center Stage camera moves to the landscape edge for video calls.
A new Acoustic Display uses the screen to produce bass and volume.
Apple's N1 chip brings Wi-Fi 7, and cellular models get its C2 modem, which it says is up to 50% faster.
The tablet comes in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB versions.
A new Smart Folio costs $79, and Apple Pencil Pro is $129.
Note: the $599 starting price of the outgoing model is from MacRumors, not Apple's release. Apple's opening paragraph credits the whole tablet with the dual Neural Engine, but the body limits it to 512GB, so check that line before filing.
