iPad mini 2026: OLED, A20 Pro and IP67, from $699 and ₹82,900 in India

Apple has given the iPad mini 2026 what the company calls its biggest update ever: an 8.5-inch OLED screen, the 2nm A20 Pro chip, IP67 water resistance and a thinner 5.4 mm body. The catch is the price. It starts at $699 in the US and ₹82,900 in India, and pre-orders open on Wednesday, 28 October, according to Apple's announcement.

Our 27-second version:

Image: Apple (press release)

What's new in the iPad mini 2026?

The diff against the 2024 model (A17 Pro) is bigger than any iPad mini update so far:

• OLED display. The screen grows from 8.3 to 8.5 inches and switches from LCD to OLED. Apple quotes 600 nits for normal content (up from 500) and up to 1,200 nits for HDR, with much deeper blacks. Apple's specs don't mention ProMotion, so MacRumors expects it to stay at 60Hz. A $100 nano-texture glass option is available on the 256GB and 512GB models.
• A20 Pro chip. Built on TSMC's 2nm process with Neural Accelerators in each GPU core. Apple claims up to 60% faster multithreaded CPU performance, up to 2.7× faster graphics and up to 4.5× faster AI performance than the A17 Pro.
• IP67. A first for the iPad mini: rated against dust and immersion in water.
• Thinner and lighter. 5.4 mm and 0.56 lb (Wi-Fi model), down from 6.3 mm and 0.65 lb.
• Acoustic Display. Sound comes from behind the screen, so there are no speaker holes; woofers sit behind the display and tweeters between the glass and the aluminium frame.
• Faster wireless. Apple's N1 chip brings Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6; cellular models use the C2 modem, which Apple says is up to 50% faster.
• Charging. 50% in 30 minutes with a 35W or higher adapter. Battery life is unchanged, per Apple.

Chart: NextDiff, from Apple and MacRumors figures

How much does the iPad mini 2026 cost in India?

Apple India lists it at ₹82,900 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model and ₹1,00,900 for Wi-Fi + Cellular. With education savings it starts at ₹76,900. The new TechWoven Smart Folio costs ₹8,500, the Apple Pencil Pro ₹11,900 and the Apple Pencil (USB-C) ₹7,900.

In the US it costs $699 (Wi-Fi) and $849 (cellular), with 256GB at $799 and 512GB at $999. That is $200 more than the 2024 model's $499 launch price and $100 more than the $599 it has cost since June, MacRumors notes.

One detail to know before you pick a storage size: the 128GB and 256GB models get a 5-core CPU, while the 512GB model gets a 6-core CPU and a dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple's "up to 60% faster" figure refers to the 6-core chip.

Image: Apple (press release)

When can you buy it?

Pre-orders start on Wednesday, 28 October, at apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 36 countries and regions, including India and the US. It arrives with customers and in stores from Friday, 6 November, in midnight and starlight.

Why it matters

The iPad mini has been Apple's oddball: a small tablet that pilots, doctors, gamers and note-takers love but that usually got leftover parts. This update gives it a flagship-grade screen and chip first, ahead of larger iPads in some respects (IP67, the Acoustic Display). It also shows where Apple's 2026 pricing is going: like the iPhone Duo, the newest hardware costs noticeably more.

Image: Apple (press release)

Caveats

• No reviews yet. Apple's performance numbers are its own; independent tests will follow the 6 November launch.
• 60Hz. If smooth scrolling matters to you, the lack of ProMotion stands out at this price.
• Base models are cut down. Only the 512GB model gets the full 6-core A20 Pro.

Apple is also widely expected to show new Macs this week, so the iPad mini may not be the last Apple launch before November.