Apple iPad mini 2026 release date, price, specs, and must-know features
iPad mini 2026. | Image by Apple
What's changed vs iPad mini (2024):
- OLED Super Retina XDR display – jelly scrolling eliminated, deeper blacks
- Larger 8.5-inch screen in the same footprint, thanks to 24% thinner bezels
- A20 Pro chip delivering up to 4.5x faster AI performance and 2.7x faster graphics than the previous generation
- The thinnest iPad mini ever – 5.4 mm thin
- IP67 water and dust resistance – a first for the iPad mini line
- Acoustic Display replaces traditional speaker holes for punchier bass and clearer highs
- 12MP Center Stage front camera moved to the landscape edge for better video calls
- C2 cellular modem on cellular models delivering up to 50% faster cellular data speeds
- Fast-charge support with up to 50% in around 30 minutes with a 35W or higher USB-C adapter
- Available in Midnight and Starlight colors
- iPadOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI
- The iPad mini was announced on October 26, 2026. Pre-orders start on October 28, 2026, with general availability beginning on November 6, 2026.
Price:
- The iPad mini starts at $699 for the 128 GB Wi-Fi model.
iPad Mini 2026 release date
Apple announced the new iPad mini via a press release on October 26, 2026. The device will be officially hitting the shelves on November 6, 2026. Pre-orders start on October 28, 2026.
| Device | Announcement | Market release |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Mini 2026 | October 26, 2026 | November 6, 2026 |
| iPad Mini 2024 | October 15, 2024 | October 23, 2024 |
| iPad Mini 6 | September 14, 2021 | September 24, 2021 |
iPad Mini 2026 price
The iPad mini starts at $699 for the Wi-Fi model and $849 for Wi-Fi + Cellular, which is a serious price hike over the previous generation.
| Device model | Starting price (Wi-Fi only) | Starting price (Wi-Fi + Cellular) |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Mini 2026 | $699 | $849 |
| iPad Mini 2024 | $499 at launch | $649 at launch |
Apple raised the iPad mini 7's starting price to $599 in June 2026 (up from $499), citing increasing RAM costs. With that increase already in place, another price hike for the next gen model looks unlikely. However, if the OLED upgrade comes, it may raise the price a little bit more.
iPad Mini 2026 camera
- Same MP as the previous model
- Front camera moved to the landscape edge, Center Stage support
The iPad mini (2026) keeps the same 12MP resolution on both cameras as the 2024 model. However, it brings two changes: an Adaptive True Tone flash on the rear camera, and, most notably, the front camera has moved to the landscape edge, where it supports Center Stage for automatic video framing.
That repositioning makes FaceTime calls and video conferencing significantly more natural when the tablet is held in landscape, which is how most people use it docked or on a stand.
iPad mini (2026) camera specs:
- Rear: 12MP Wide, f/1.8 aperture, Autofocus with Focus Pixels, Adaptive True Tone flash, Smart HDR 4, 4K video at up to 60 fps
- Front: 12MP Center Stage camera, landscape edge, f/2.0 aperture, 1080p HD video
iPad Mini 2026 storage
iPad Mini 2026 storage capacity:
- 128 GB
- 256 GB
- 512 GB
Storage options are unchanged from the previous generation.
The 512GB configuration gains a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, which is double the neural processing capacity of the 128GB and 256GB models. Thus, it is the better choice if you plan to do on-device AI.
The nano-texture display glass option is also exclusive to 256GB and 512GB models.
iPad Mini 2026 design
- Thinnest iPad mini ever
- Larger 8.5-inch display with 24% smaller bezels
- Two colors: Midnight and Starlight
- IP67 rating for water and dust resistance
- New audio system design
The new iPad mini. | Image by Apple
The iPad mini (2026) is just 5.4 mm thin (down from 6.3 mm on the previous gen), which makes it the thinnest iPad mini ever. It also has a larger 8.5-inch display, which has grown thanks to 24% thinner bezels.
The iPad mini is available in two colors, Midnight and Starlight. It comes with an IP67 rating, which means it is protected against dust and can withstand submersion in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes under the IEC 60529 standard.
Midnight and Starlight color options for the new iPad mini. | Images by Apple
Meanwhile the traditional speaker holes are gone. Instead, iPad mini sports an Acoustic Display system, which has specially designed woofers paired through the display itself for punchier bass, with custom tweeters tucked between the glass and aluminum enclosure for clearer highs.
The sealed enclosure is also what enables the IP67 rating.
In-box accessories remain the same: a USB-C charge cable (1 meter) and a 20W USB-C power adapter. The nano-texture display option includes a polishing cloth.
iPad mini (2026) dimensions:
- 7.69 x 5.22 x 0.21 inches (195.3 x 132.6 x 5.4 mm)
- Wi-Fi: 0.56 lb (255 g) | Wi-Fi + Cellular: 0.58 lb (263 g)
iPad Mini 2026 display
- 8.5-inch OLED display
- Nano-texture display glass (optional)
The long-awaited OLED upgrade is finally here. The iPad mini (2026) features an 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED.
| Device | Screen size | Brightness |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Mini 2026 | 8.5 inches | 1,200 nits |
| iPad Mini 2024 | 8.3 inches | 500 nits |
With the new OLED display, the issue with jelly scrolling (visual inconsistency where one side of the screen refreshes slightly ahead of the other during vertical scrolling) present in the previous LCD models is gone.
The new iPad mini. | Image by Apple
With OLED, we also get deeper blacks and a new peak brightness of up to 1,200 nits for HDR content, which is more than twice the maximum brightness of its predecessor. Minimum brightness is 1 nit for dark environments use.
The device also comes with an optional nano-texture display glass on the 256 or 512 GB models. Nano-texture display is a feature that was previously exclusive to the iPad Pro and it reduces glare in bright environments.
The display supports P3 wide color and True Tone and is compatible with both Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), including Apple Pencil hover.
iPad Mini 2026 battery
- 18.9 Wh battery capacity
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
The iPad mini (2026) comes with a slightly smaller battery capacity – 18.9 Wh versus its predecessor's 19.3 Wh – but the battery life, according to Apple, remains the same of up to 10 hours of browsing or video playback.
The OLED display is more power efficient than the LCD, and the 2 nm-built A20 Pro chip both will help with battery life on the device.
The model also gains fast charging support, but the fast charging adapter is sold separately (35 W or higher). With the faster charger, the tablet can reach around 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes.
iPad Mini 2026 features and software
The iPad mini 2026 comes with iPadOS 27 out of the box.
Apple unveiled Siri AI at WWDC 2026 – the long-awaited generative AI overhaul of the voice assistant.
With iPadOS 27, Siri gains awareness of your personal context, the ability to read on-screen content, and the capability to take actions across apps.
Apple Intelligence is being integrated into nearly every app in iPadOS 27, with most core Apple applications picking up new AI-powered capabilities. Write with Siri is rolling out system-wide as part of the same update.
Image Playground is also receiving an upgrade, gaining the ability to generate lock screen wallpapers, contact posters, and backgrounds for the Messages app.
The Liquid Glass aesthetic introduced in iPadOS 26 returns with iPadOS 27, now with a system-wide transparency slider. You can dial back the transparency effect for customization. Also, the release brings general performance improvements and efficiency gains.
The N1 wireless chip brings Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be with 2×2 MIMO) support, as well as Bluetooth 6 and Thread networking.
iPad Mini 2026 hardware and specs
iPad Mini 2026's specs:
- Chipset: A20 Pro
- Battery: 18.9 Wh
- Charging: 20W with the included adapter, fast-charge capable with 35W+ (sold separately)
- Storage: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
- Camera setup: Single rear camera, single selfie camera
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
The iPad mini (2026) is powered by the A20 Pro chip, built on a 2nm process. The processor gives up to 2.7 times faster graphics and up to 4.5 times faster AI performance in comparison to the iPad mini (2024)'s A17 Pro chip.
The A20 Pro is also up to 60% faster for multithreaded CPU performance, according to Apple.
The 512 GB model features a Dual 16-core Neural Engine with 32 total neural cores, double the processing power of the other configurations. This option is significantly more capable for on-device AI workloads in apps like Draw Things or for running local LLMs.
Cellular models feature Apple's C2 modem. The C2 enables up to 50% faster cellular data speeds compared to the previous generation, and it also comes with improved power efficiency.
The N1 wireless chip brings Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be with 2×2 MIMO) support, as well as Bluetooth 6 and Thread networking.
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