The short answer
- New iPad mini: $699 for 128GB Wi-Fi. Pre-orders opened October 28. It goes on sale November 6.
- Best deal right now: the iPad mini 7 (A17 Pro), if you find it well below its $599 list price.
- Wait? Only if you need 120Hz. Apple does not list it on the new mini.
Apple announced the new iPad mini on October 26, 2026. People are calling it the "iPad mini 8", but Apple just calls it iPad mini. It is the first iPad mini with an OLED screen. It uses the new A20 Pro chip and has an IP67 rating for water and dust. Apple says the body is 5.4mm thin.
The price went up. The old model launched at $499 in 2024 and Apple raised it to $599 in June. The new one starts at $699.
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 26 | Apple announces the new iPad mini |
| October 28 | Pre-orders open (36 countries and regions, incl. the U.S.) |
| November 6 | On sale |
iPad mini (A20 Pro) vs iPad mini 7 vs iPad Air M4
| New iPad mini (A20 Pro) | iPad mini 7 (A17 Pro) | iPad Air 11-inch (M4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $699 (Wi-Fi, 128GB) | $599 list; sale prices lower | $749 |
| Screen | 8.5-inch OLED | 8.3-inch Liquid Retina | 10.86-inch Liquid Retina |
| Brightness | 600 nits full screen, 1,200 peak (HDR) | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Chip | A20 Pro (2nm) | A17 Pro | M4 |
| Memory | Not listed by Apple | Not listed here | 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB and up | 128GB to 1TB |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (N1 chip) | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 (N1 chip) |
| Water resistance | IP67 | No IP rating listed | No IP rating listed |
| Thickness / weight | 5.4mm / 255g (Wi-Fi) | 6.3mm / 0.65 lb | 6.1mm / 464g |
| Pencil | Pencil Pro, Pencil (USB-C) | Pencil Pro, Pencil (USB-C) | Pencil Pro, Pencil (USB-C) |
| Touch ID | Yes (top button) | Yes | Yes (top button) |
Prices are U.S. list prices at Apple. Apple does not list RAM for the new mini. Apple's iPad Air page does not list a refresh rate either.
What is new on the iPad mini
- OLED screen. It is 8.5 inches, up from 8.3, with 24% thinner bezels in the same footprint. Apple lists 1,200 nits peak and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. A nano-texture glass option (less glare) is available on the 256GB and 512GB models.
- A20 Pro chip. Apple claims up to 60% faster multi-core CPU, 2.7x graphics and 4.5x AI performance over the last mini. Those are Apple's numbers, not ours.
- IP67. It survives up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes in Apple's lab tests.
- Wi-Fi 7 and a new modem. The cellular model uses Apple's C2 modem, with up to 50% faster data than before, says Apple.
- Cameras and speakers. The 12MP Center Stage front camera moves to the long edge. The speakers play through the screen ("Acoustic Display").
- Battery. Apple says up to 10 hours of web or video on Wi-Fi.
The catch: no ProMotion. Apple does not list 120Hz. MacRumors reads that as a 60Hz screen. Apple's David Pakula told YouTuber Christopher Lawley that "display experience is about more than just a single spec" and that OLED cuts motion blur compared with LCD, as MacRumors reported on October 29. Apple has not said "60Hz" in plain words in the places we checked.
Where each one wins
- New mini: best screen, thinnest body, only one with IP67, easiest to carry.
- Mini 7: same size and same Apple Pencil support for far less money on sale. It is the value pick.
- iPad Air M4: bigger 11-inch screen, 12GB of memory and up to 1TB storage. The screen is not OLED. It costs $50 more than the new mini.
Which should you buy?
- Buy the new iPad mini if you read, sketch or travel with a tablet and want OLED and a water-resistant body. Pay $699, or $649 with Apple's education price.
- Buy the iPad mini 7 if you want the cheapest small iPad. HotHardware saw it at $559 on Amazon (17% off) on October 26. Check the price before you buy, because deals change.
- Buy the iPad Air M4 if you want a bigger screen for notes, split-screen apps or light editing, and you can spend $749.
- Wait if you need 120Hz, or you want a Black Friday price on the new mini. Apple rarely discounts new iPads right away, so we would not count on it before you can buy it on November 6.
Check iPad mini (A17 Pro) price on Amazon
Who should not buy:
- New mini: anyone who wants a smooth 120Hz screen, or who only reads and browses. The mini 7 does that for less.
- Mini 7: anyone who wants water resistance or an OLED screen.
- iPad Air: anyone who needs a pocketable tablet. At 464g it is much heavier.
Related: see our Black Friday iPad deals for current discounts, and our guide to the best iPad cases.
FAQ
iPad mini 8 vs iPad mini 7: which is better?
The new mini has the better screen, chip, Wi-Fi and water resistance. The mini 7 costs less and does the basics well. Both support Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C).
What is the iPad mini 8 price?
$699 for 128GB Wi-Fi. The 256GB is $799 and the 512GB is $999. Wi-Fi + Cellular (unlocked) starts at $849. Nano-texture glass adds $100. Apple's top configuration is $1,249.
Does the iPad mini 8 have 120Hz?
Apple does not list a 120Hz or ProMotion mode. MacRumors says it appears to stay at 60Hz. Apple has not given a plain 60Hz statement in the sources we read.
Does the iPad mini 8 have the full A20 Pro?
Apple lists a 5-core CPU on the 128GB and 256GB models and a 6-core CPU with a dual Neural Engine on the 512GB model. All have a 7-core GPU.
What is the iPad mini 8 release date?
Pre-orders began October 28. It goes on sale November 6.
Will my iPad mini 7 case fit?
Apple has not said. The camera moved and the body is thinner, so we would buy a case made for the new model. Apple sells a $79 TechWoven Smart Folio. Amazon already lists third-party cases made for the new mini.
Can I use my old Apple Pencil?
Apple says the new mini supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C). Check which Pencil you own before you buy.
Other tech news this week
- OLED MacBook Pro: MacRumors reports Apple announced a touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro on October 28, starting at $2,899 (14-inch) and $3,399 (16-inch). The price comes via TrendForce. Launch is November 6.
- M6 MacBook Pro and iMac: Apple updated the base 14-inch MacBook Pro and the iMac with the M6 chip. Pre-orders are open and launch is November 6. We did not find a price.
- HomePod mini 2: MacRumors says it launched on October 30 at $149 in the U.S.
Sources
- Apple Newsroom: Apple gives iPad mini its biggest update ever
- Apple: iPad mini tech specs
- Apple: iPad Air tech specs
- Apple Store: buy iPad mini
- MacRumors: Apple announces new iPad mini
- MacRumors: Apple executive on iPad mini lacking 120Hz
- The Next Web: Apple OLED iPad mini
- HotHardware: Apple overhauls iPad mini
Image: Apple.
