Apple presented the new iPad mini with 8.5 inch OLED display, thickness of 5.4 mmchips A20 Pro and degree of protection IP67 against water and dust. The previous model, with the A17 Pro chip, used an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina LCD display. Price starts from 759 euros for the Wi-Fi version and from 929 euros for the Wi-Fi + Cellular version, against the starting price of 609 euros with which the previous model arrived in Italy in 2024. Pre-orders, also for the new Smart Folio case, start Wednesday 28 October and availability is set for Friday 6 November. The tablet arrives with iPadOS 27 and Apple Intelligence, and for the first time on an iPad mini it brings the N1 network chip and, in the cellular versions, the C2 modem.
The 8.5-inch display is larger, but the overall dimensions remain those of the previous model thanks to bezels reduced by 24%. Apple describes the new iPad mini as noticeably thinner and lighter than the previous generation and offers it in two colors: the new one midnight and the galaxy. The degree IP67 makes it resistant to water and dust, and among the use scenarios cited by the release are working outdoors on rainy days and reading by the pool. In the notes, Apple specifies that the IP67 rating was obtained in the laboratory according to the IEC 60529 standard, with immersion up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. Resistance is not permanent and may decrease with normal wear, and liquid damage is not covered by Apple’s one-year limited warranty, without prejudice to the statutory warranty of conformity.
The OLED display: brightness, contrast and nanotexture
The Super Retina XDR panel uses OLED technology to control the lighting of each pixel, achieving deeper blacks, and supports the wide P3 color gamut. The peak brightness reaches 1,200 nitsmore than double compared to the previous generation, while in full screen it is 600 nits for both SDR and HDR content. The contrast declared by Apple is 2,000,000:1.
The minimum brightness is 1 nitdesigned for dimly lit environments, such as reading in bed at night or consulting flight information in the cockpits. At the other extreme is the version with nanotexturesan option already appreciated by those who use iPad Pro, which reduces reflections in brightly lit environments. Apple recommends it for those who do outdoor creative editing and for technical staff working in the field.
A20 Pro, audio and connectivity
THE’A20 Pro it is made with the company’s latest 2-nanometer technology and with new packaging inspired by the M-series chips. The 7-core GPU has a Neural Accelerator in each core, and for Apple this makes the tablet up to 4.5 times faster in AI tasks compared to the previous generation, from running models on-device in creative apps to running LLM locally. The new graphics architecture with dynamic caching, mesh shading and hardware-accelerated ray tracing brings graphics performance up to 2.7 times higher, again according to company data. The CPU goes up to 6 cores.
The statement links the 16-core Dual Neural Engine to the 512GB model, for which Apple claims double the processing power compared to the previous generation, with accelerated tasks in apps like Draw Things and Detail. Leveraging all 32 cores, the chip handles the most advanced on-device AI workloads. Apple also more than doubles unified memory bandwidth, benefiting graphics- and AI-intensive workflows.
In the’Acoustic Display the specially designed woofers work in conjunction with the display to produce stronger bass and more volume, while the tweeters, hidden between the glass and the aluminum shell, make the high tones clearer. The sealed shell of the Acoustic Display contributes to IP67 protection. The 12MP Center Stage front camera is now on the long side, for FaceTime video calls and video conferencing, while the 12MP wide-angle rear camera uses Smart HDR 4, records 4K video at up to 60 fps and has adaptive True Tone flash, also useful for document scanning.
The network chip N1designed by Apple, is designed for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. According to the company, it improves performance on 5GHz Wi-Fi networks and makes functions such as AirDrop and AirPlay more reliable and faster. The versions with cellular connectivity integrate the modem C2which offers performance on data networks up to 50% faster compared to the previous iPad mini and more energy efficient. On cellular models there is also an eSIM, which allows you to add a new plan and connect or digitally transfer existing ones. iPad mini also supports fast charging.
The starting software is iPadOS 27 with latest generation Apple Intelligence. For photos there are the now improved “Clean Up” tools, “Spatial Reframe” and “Extend”, the Image Playground app can also create photorealistic images and Safari’s “Notify Me” function keeps an eye on web pages to report changes in availability or price of a product. Features that rely on server-side templates, including intelligent photo editing tools and Image Playground, are subject to daily usage limitsand Apple announces greater paid access in the future. Apple Intelligence uses on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute, where personal data is not stored or made accessible to the company or others, according to Apple. The Liquid Glass design gains a slider in Settings to adjust its appearance from perfectly transparent to opaque, and iPadOS 27.2 brings wide-screen mode to iPad mini when the tablet is connected to an external monitor.
Prices and availability
The new iPad mini can be pre-ordered from Wednesday 28 October on apple.com/it and in the Apple Store app, in 36 countries and territories. Deliveries begin Friday 6 Novemberthe day on which the tablet also arrives in Apple Stores and authorized resellers. The available capacities are 128, 256 and 512GB, in midnight and galaxy colors. Price starts from 759 euros for the Wi-Fi model and from 929 euros for Wi-Fi + Cellular, and drops to 699 euros with Education prices. The new case Smart Folio in TechWoven fabric, with two-panel architecture and magnetic fastening, edge 89 euros in navy blue and taupe. The tablet is compatible with Apple Pencil Pro, at 149 euros (139 euros with Education prices), and with Apple Pencil (USB-C), at 89 euros (79 euros with Education prices).
