Apple unveils a redesigned iPad mini with an 8.5-inch OLED display, an A20 Pro, a nano-texture display option, and IP67 water resistance, for $699+ from Nov. 6

Featuring a stunning OLED display in an even thinner and lighter design, a huge leap in performance, faster wireless connectivity, and water and dust resistance

Apple 2026-10-26

Context & Ripple Effects

Apple’s compact tablet has moved steadily upmarket: the 2019 model started at $399, the 2021 redesign added an 8.3-inch screen, USB-C and 5G, and the 2024 refresh kept that display while adding A17 Pro and Apple Intelligence. The new model breaks that holdover with the OLED iPad mini forecast in July and a higher $699 entry price.

The launch turns the iPad mini from a periodic chip-refresh product into a display-led redesign. It follows the 2024 A17 Pro update and the 2021 shift to the 8.3-inch chassis, making screen technology, thinner bezels and finish options central to the upgrade pitch.

First-order effects

Apple raises the iPad mini’s starting price by $200 versus the 2024 model, while giving compact-tablet buyers an 8.5-inch OLED display, A20 Pro and a nano-texture option.
Existing iPad mini owners face a more visibly differentiated upgrade than the 2024 refresh, which retained the prior 8.3-inch display.

Second-order effects

The $699 price makes the display, industrial design and finish options—not processor performance alone—the key justification for moving from an older iPad mini.
Public reaction has focused on the absence of stated ProMotion support, giving Apple’s OLED positioning a clear trade-off: improved contrast and color without a disclosed higher refresh rate.

Third-order effects

If Apple keeps pairing major display upgrades with higher entry prices, the iPad mini line is shifting from an affordable small tablet toward a premium compact-device tier.
The progression from $399 in 2019 to $499 in 2021 and 2024, then $699 with OLED in 2026, points to Apple reserving larger design changes for higher-priced iPad mini generations.

The trend: Apple is using OLED and industrial-design upgrades to move the iPad mini toward premium pricing rather than treating it as a low-cost entry tablet.

Discussion

@stephenrobles Stephen Robles on x
Looks like we're getting GTA VI before an iPad mini with ProMotion...
@chriswelch Chris Welch on x
The new iPad mini has an OLED screen, but it's still stuck at 60Hz. Nowhere in Apple's marketing or on the tech specs page is ProMotion mentioned, and the company is highlighting OLED's color/contrast benefits — nothing about refresh rate. Oh well.
@samkohl Sam Kohl on x
I would bet anything that they did this so it doesn't compete with the iPhone Duo
@gregorymcfadden @gregorymcfadden on x
New iPad mini is 5.3mm thin, 8.5" OLED, A20 pro chip, and its water and dust resistant... uhh maybe getting this and an iPhone 18 Pro is the better move than the Duo.
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
BREAKING: Apple has confirmed that the Polishing Cloth is compatible with the new iPad mini (A20 Pro)
@appltrack @appltrack on x
The new iPad mini with OLED does NOT support 120Hz ProMotion. Instead, Apple appears to have kept the cheaper 60Hz panel. Does this make sense in 2026?
@bengeskin Ben Geskin on x
Apple just announced the new iPad mini starting at $699 • New 8.5-inch OLED display with 24% thinner bezels • Up to 1,200 nits peak brightness • Optional nano-texture matte display • A20 Pro chip built on a 2nm process • Up to 60% faster CPU and 2.7x faster graphics • Up to 4.5x …
@thedaverainey Dave on x
699 for an iPad mini is crazy.
@ultralinx @ultralinx on x
Oh my Apple actually did it. They put an OLED in the new iPad Mini. 100% buying this. The Mini has been my favourite iPad since it was released back in 2012.
@stephenrobles Stephen Robles on x
🚨New iPad mini is official! - 8.5" OLED display with same footprint - Nano-texture option! - A20 Pro chip - Dual Neural Engine on 512GB version - C2 modem, Wi-Fi 7, BT 6, Thread - Starts at $699 - Pre-Order Wed, Oct 28, comes Fri Nov 6
@mweinbach Max Weinbach on x
This is interesting, Apple seems to be binning the A20 Pro There's a 5-core CPU version with a single Neural Engine rather than dual ANE and 6-core CPU on the 512GB iPad mini and iPhones with it
@rsgnl Joe Rossignol on x
Apple just announced the iPad mini 8: - A larger 8.5" OLED display - Nano-texture display option - A20 Pro chip - Acoustic Display audio system (no speaker holes) - Landscape front camera - IP67-rated water and dust resistance And more... U.S. pricing starts at $699
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
The lower and high storage models have different A20 Chips. The 512GB configuration has 6 CPU cores versus 5. Both have 7 core GPUs.
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
iPad mini (A20) preorders start at a very odd time... 10:10am PT on October 28
@bdsams Brad Sams on x
The new iPad mini *starting* at $699 ...yeesh
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
Revamped, OLED iPad mini with 8.5-inch screen, water/dust resistance, A20 Pro chip, nano-texture option and more is now official. $699.
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
Apple gives iPad mini its biggest update ever Featuring a stunning OLED display in an even thinner and lighter design, a huge leap in performance, faster wireless connectivity, and water and dust resistance
@darewecan @darewecan on x
I have had my iPhone Duo since Friday & have not once used my iPad Mini or iPhone 17 Pro Max since - the Duo serves both purposes. Now it is the start of the work week - will be another good test. But so far, the Duo is everything I expected it to be.
@mil000 Milo Smith on x
$799 for the iPad mini🫩, i remember when the a15 was $399 in 2024
r/ipad r on reddit
Apple gives iPad mini its biggest update ever
r/ipadmini r on reddit
Apple gives iPad mini its biggest update ever
r/apple r on reddit
Apple gives iPad mini its biggest update ever
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
When Apple holds events on Wednesdays, it increasingly does so following three days of announcements. OLED iPad mini today, M6 iMac and MacBook Pro on Tuesday and touch MacBook Pro on Wednesday would make sense.
@gregjoz Greg Joswiak on x
It's going to be an exciting week, and it starts with our all-new iPad mini. Thinner and lighter than ever, with an OLED display, water and dust resistance, better audio, powered by A20 Pro... it's the biggest update ever to iPad mini!
@stevemoser Steve Moser on x
iPad Mini: A20 Pro and Pro-level price ($699 for 128GB) but no Promotion? I guess we are in for a week of an Apple product announcement a day. Is this the first time Apple hasn't started pre-orders at the top of the hour “Pre-order starting at 10:10 a.m. PT on 10.28
@autismcapital @autismcapital on x
New OLED iPad mini just dropped but how is it 2026 and Apple is releasing a 60Hz refresh rate iPad? Prices are 128gb $699, 256 $799, 512 $899, they also have a cellular option. This is basically just an iPhone Duo with one screen? Everything is converging. Also what is this ad? W…
@rsgnl Joe Rossignol on x
While the lack of 120Hz support will disappoint those who were hoping for that, the iPad mini still received a huge upgrade today, with at least a dozen new features and changes.
@nandoprince93 Fernando Silva on x
I have a theory... 👀 Apple made the new iPad mini more expensive to make choosing between an iPhone Duo and an iPhone 18 Pro + iPad mini MUCH harder. iPhone Duo: $2,000 iPhone 18 Pro: $1,100 iPad mini (Cellular): $849 Total: $1,949 JUST A $51 DIFFERENCE 🤯 Coincidence? I think not…
@seanallen_dev Sean Allen on x
I've been waiting for an OLED iPad Mini forever... but the iPhone Duo canabalizes it for me. https://www.youtube.com/...
@caro_milanesi Carolina Milanesi on x
iPad Mini users are extremely loyal and with Duo now on the market they are getting apps that will feel more custom than in the past. The updates are also a good reminder that iPad Mini is a size choice not a price one
@thisistechtoday M. Brandon Lee on x
This is unfortunate. In order to get the new Apple iPad Mini A20 with the Nanotexture display, you have to upgrade the storage in order to have the OPTION to get it. So instead of it being $699 ($799 with the upgraded display), it ends up being $899. Woof.

Chronicles