Credit: Apple
Apple updates the iPad mini with a slightly larger OLED display in a thinner and lighter form factor. The portable slate now has an 8.5-inch OLED display, compared with the previous generation's 8.3-inch screen, with up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness and 1-nit minimum brightness and support for up to 4K at a 60Hz refresh rate. It is also only 5.4mm thick, features bezels that are 24% smaller, and comes with IP67 splash-, water- and dust-resistance.
The iPad mini also now runs on the upgraded A20 Pro chip to support on-device AI models and some of Apple's new Siri AI features. Storage options range from 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, with a 16-core Neural Engine. With a new "Acoustic Display" feature, the iPad mini promises improved audio through "specially designed" woofers and custom tweeters hidden between the device's glass and the aluminum enclosure for "clearer highs."
Apple also moved the 12-megapixel front-facing camera to the long edge of the tablet for easier use during video calls. Battery life is slated for up to 10 hours when watching videos or web surfing on Wi-Fi. The iPad mini comes in the dark "Midnight" shade and the light "Starlight" option. Pre-orders kick off on October 28, Wednesday, with the Wi-Fi model's starting price coming in at $949 in Canada, while the Wi-Fi + cellular variant's retail price begins at $1,149. The new pricing confirms the rumoured price hike from the previous versions of the iPad mini that came in at starting prices of $679 and $879 at launch.