Apple iPad Mini Oled: 8.5'' screen, A20 Pro chip, IP67 water resistance, 5.4 mm thick and more expensive

Apple has just unveiled the very latest generation of its iPad mini tablet, offering a wide range of new features, starting with Oled display technology (finally!), all the way to resistance to underwater immersion, a first across all iPads. At first glance, the new iPad mini looks like its predecessor, with the Touch ID button on the top edge, a [abc]USB[/abc]-C port, a 12-megapixel rear camera, two microphones and the same 24-hour battery life. It does, however, stand out in many respects, starting with a slightly larger screen (8.5" instead of 8.3"), for a brightness of 60 nits (500 nits previously), notably thanks to the introduction of Oled technology, which rumors have been announcing since 2024. One small regret, though: the lack of ProMotion functionality with a fixed refresh rate of 60 hertz.

 

Apple iPad mini Oled, record thinness and 2 nm A20 Pro chip

Another good piece of news is a thickness of 5.4 mm (6.3 mm previously), a record for the range. The weight also drops by a few grams, and the 2 nm-etched A20 Pro chip delivers up to 60% more performance, with a GPU that is 2.7x faster and AI features that are 4.5x faster.

 

IP67 water resistance, landscape Center Stage camera and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity

Another welcome new feature is the IP67 rating for the first time on an Apple tablet, meaning resistance to dust and underwater immersion. A feat made possible thanks to audio technology that harnesses screen vibrations and therefore does not require openings in the casing. On the camera side, the 12-megapixel Center Stage camera is now positioned for video calls in Landscape mode, rather than being limited to Portrait mode. Notable additions include True Tone adaptive flash, for improved scanning quality of documents and images (previously reserved for iPad Pro). Also worth mentioning are fast charging for 50% battery in 30 minutes with a 35 W adapter (or higher), the Apple N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and faster, more stable AirDrop and [abc]AirPlay[/abc] capabilities. The C2 modem, meanwhile, offers cellular speeds up to 50% faster (on cellular models).

 

Only two colors are available (versus four previously), Starlight and Midnight, with sales scheduled for November 6. As for the recommended price, as expected and already announced, it has increased compared with the previous generation. In its lowest configuration, the iPad mini is priced at €759, whereas the previous model launched at 609 euros.

 

Reminder of the key features of the Apple iPad Mini Oled :

• Screen: [abc]Oled[/abc] 8.5'' (21.6 cm), 60 Hz, 600-nit peak brightness

• Processor: Apple A20 Pro chip (2 nm process)

• Thickness: 5.4 mm

• Certification: IP67 (resistance to dust and underwater immersion)

• Audio: sound output through screen vibrations (no speaker grille)

• Photo / Video: 12-megapixel rear sensor with True Tone adaptive flash, 12-megapixel Center Stage front camera (landscape-oriented)

• Connectivity: [abc]Wi-Fi[/abc] 7, [abc]Bluetooth[/abc] 6 (Apple N1 chip), Apple C2 5G modem (on cellular versions), [abc]USB[/abc]-C port

• Battery: advertised battery life of 24 hours, fast charging (50% in 30 minutes with a 35 W minimum adapter)

• Security: Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the top edge

• Colors: Starlight, Midnight