Apple's New iPad mini Gets 8.5-Inch OLED Display and A20 Pro Chip

Apple has announced the next generation of the iPad mini. The tablet swaps the previous model's LCD for an OLED display and grows the screen to 8.5 inches. Other changes include a nano-texture display option, a thinner and lighter design, the A20 Pro chip, an Acoustic Display audio system that eliminates speaker holes, and a front camera positioned on the landscape edge.

The tablet also includes the Apple N1 chip, which brings Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support, and carries an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. Pre-orders open on Wednesday, October 28, at 10:10 a.m. Pacific time. The devices begin reaching customers on Friday, November 6, when they will also go on sale in Apple Stores.

OLED display and nano-texture option

According to Apple, the OLED panel delivers higher contrast and more than double the peak brightness of the previous model. Content should appear with richer, more vivid color than on the earlier LCD iPad mini.

As on the iPad Pro, the iPad mini can now be configured with a nano-texture display. The option is aimed at cutting reflections in bright environments. It costs an extra $100 and is available only in the 256 GB and 512 GB storage configurations.

Thinner body and Acoustic Display audio

The new iPad mini is roughly 15 percent thinner and lighter than its predecessor. The Wi-Fi model measures 5.4 mm thick and weighs 0.56 pounds, compared with 6.3 mm and 0.65 pounds for the previous-generation Wi-Fi model.

One of its headline changes is the Acoustic Display system, which removes the speaker holes entirely. Apple describes custom-designed woofers that work through the display to produce punchier bass and higher volume, while dedicated tweeters hidden between the glass and the aluminum body keep high frequencies clear.

The system also helps the iPad mini achieve its IP67 water and dust resistance, a first for the device.

A20 Pro chip comes in two configurations

The A20 Pro chip, introduced last month with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, now comes to the iPad mini. The version depends on storage. The 128 GB and 256 GB models get a 5-core CPU, 7-core GPU and a single 16-core Neural Engine, while the 512 GB model gets a 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU and a dual 16-core Neural Engine.

Built on TSMC's advanced 2 nm process, the A20 Pro has a Neural Accelerator in each GPU core. Apple says that, compared with the A17 Pro in the previous iPad mini, CPU performance rises by up to 60 percent, graphics performance by 2.7 times and AI performance by 4.5 times.

Pricing and colors

Prices start at $699 in the US. On Apple's Turkish online store, the 128 GB model is listed from 48,999 TL, the 256 GB model from 55,999 TL and the 512 GB model from 69,999 TL. The 128 GB and 256 GB models share the same chip configuration, while the 512 GB model gets the more powerful 6-core CPU version.

The device is offered in just two colors, Midnight and Starlight. With the changes to its display technology, audio and durability, the new iPad mini substantially refreshes the lineup.