Apple has given its smallest tablet its biggest change in years. The company unveiled a new iPad mini on Monday, October 26, with an 8.5-inch OLED display, the new A20 Pro chip and water and dust resistance for the first time. In India, the Wi-Fi model starts at Rs 82,900, and pre-orders open on October 28.
It is a quiet launch with a loud message. Apple announced the tablet two days before its Pro and Tell event, and the mini is no longer the entry level iPad in spirit. It now carries flagship screen and chip hardware in a body that still fits in one hand, at a price that asks buyers to treat it as a premium device.
A bigger screen in the same small body
The headline change is the display. The new iPad mini moves from an 8.3-inch LCD to an 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel. Apple has trimmed the bezels by 24 percent, so the larger screen fits in roughly the same footprint as the previous model.
OLED brings per-pixel lighting, which means deeper blacks and stronger contrast. Apple puts peak brightness at up to 1,200 nits, more than double the previous generation, while the screen can dim to just 1 nit for reading at night. The display also supports the P3 wide colour gamut, and buyers of the 256GB and 512GB models can choose a nano-texture glass option to cut glare outdoors.
A20 Pro brings serious speed for AI work
Inside, the A20 Pro chip is built on a 2-nanometre process. Apple claims up to 4.5 times faster AI performance, up to 2.7 times faster graphics and up to 60 percent faster multithreaded CPU performance than the previous iPad mini.
Those numbers matter most for on-device AI. Apple says the chip is suited to running local language models and creative apps without always leaning on the cloud. The top 512GB configuration goes further, with a Dual 16-core Neural Engine for heavier on-device AI workloads.
The tablet runs iPadOS 27 and supports Apple Intelligence features. A new Acoustic Display system routes bass through the screen for fuller sound, a useful touch for a device many people use for films and video calls on the move.
Cameras and connectivity move forward
The cameras have been reworked for how people actually use a small tablet. The 12MP Center Stage front camera now sits on the landscape edge, so video calls frame the user properly when the tablet is held sideways. The 12MP rear camera supports Smart HDR 4 and 4K video recording at up to 60 frames per second.
Connectivity also gets a step up. Apple’s N1 chip adds Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, while cellular models get the C2 modem, with up to 50 percent faster data speeds claimed. For field workers, doctors, pilots and students who carry the mini everywhere, that combination of a tougher body, faster wireless and a brighter screen is the practical core of this update.
“With a remarkably thinner and lighter design, a stunning new OLED display, the incredibly powerful A20 Pro, and water and dust resistance, the new iPad mini is a huge leap forward,” said Dave Pakula, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering.
India price, pre-orders and sale date
Apple has kept the India pricing simple at the entry point, and steep as storage rises. The Wi-Fi models are priced as follows:
- 128GB Wi-Fi: Rs 82,900
- 256GB Wi-Fi: Rs 94,900
- 512GB Wi-Fi: Rs 1,18,900
The Wi-Fi plus Cellular model starts at Rs 1,00,900 for 128GB, with higher storage variants priced higher. Pre-orders in India open at 10:40 pm IST on October 28 through Apple’s website and the Apple Store app. The tablet goes on sale on November 6 through Apple Stores and authorised retailers.
Buyers will need to weigh one trade-off carefully. The nano-texture display and the full-strength AI hardware on the 512GB model push the price well past the base model. For readers, note-takers and travellers, the base model already delivers the new screen and chip. For creators running heavy on-device AI work, the top variant is the one Apple has built for that load.
Frequently asked questions
When was the new iPad mini unveiled?
Apple unveiled the new iPad mini on Monday, October 26, 2026.
What is the India starting price?
The Wi-Fi model starts at Rs 82,900 for 128GB. The Wi-Fi plus Cellular model starts at Rs 1,00,900.
When do pre-orders open in India?
Pre-orders open at 10:40 pm IST on October 28, with sales starting on November 6.
What is new in this iPad mini?
An 8.5-inch OLED display, A20 Pro chip, 5.4mm thin body, IP67 water and dust resistance, a landscape front camera and faster Wi-Fi 7 and cellular connectivity.
Which colours and storage options are available?
Midnight and starlight finishes, with 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage.
The new iPad mini arrives as a small tablet with flagship ambitions. The screen and chip justify the attention, and the November 6 sale date will show whether buyers are ready to pay a premium price for a pocket-sized iPad.
