Apple has officially refreshed the iPad mini ahead of its upcoming "Pro and tell" event, introducing what the company describes as its most capable and versatile compact tablet yet. The 8th-generation iPad mini brings several major hardware upgrades, including a larger OLED display, the new A20 Pro chip, faster wireless connectivity and improved cameras.
Despite the added hardware, Apple has kept the device exceptionally thin and light. The new iPad mini measures just 5.4mm thick and weighs either 255g or 263g, depending on the configuration. It also carries an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, adding a welcome layer of protection for a device designed around portability.
A Larger 8.5-Inch OLED Display
One of the most noticeable upgrades is the new 8.5-inch OLED display, made possible by bezels that are approximately 24% slimmer than those on the previous generation. Apple is branding the panel as a Super Retina XDR display, giving the compact tablet a more premium visual experience.
The screen offers a resolution of 2,316 x 1,512 pixels and supports up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness. It also covers the P3 wide colour gamut, making it better suited to photo editing, creative work and media consumption where colour accuracy matters.
Apple is offering both standard glass and nano-texture display options. However, the nano-texture finish is limited to the 256GB and 512GB configurations, meaning buyers choosing the entry-level 128GB model will not have access to that option.
A20 Pro Brings A Major Performance Jump
Under the hood, the new iPad mini is powered by Apple's A20 Pro chip, although the exact configuration depends on the storage tier. The 128GB and 256GB versions use an A20 Pro with a 5-core CPU, while the 512GB model gets the same A20 Pro configuration found in Apple's iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
Apple claims the new chip delivers substantial performance gains compared with the previous iPad mini. AI performance is said to be up to 4.5 times faster, while graphics performance improves by as much as 2.7 times.
Multi-threaded CPU performance is also claimed to be up to 60% faster, which should make the new iPad mini considerably more capable for demanding applications, creative workflows and gaming.
The 512GB Model Gets The Full-Fat A20 Pro
The difference between the lower-capacity models and the 512GB version is worth noting. While all variants carry the A20 Pro name, only the highest-capacity model receives the same version used in the iPhone 18 Pro series.
That means buyers choosing the 128GB or 256GB versions are getting a slightly reduced CPU configuration. Apple has increasingly used this kind of chip segmentation across its products, allowing the company to differentiate higher-end configurations without creating an entirely separate processor family.
For most users, the 5-core CPU should still offer a substantial performance upgrade over the previous generation. Those wanting the maximum possible performance, however, will need to move up to the 512GB model.
AI Performance Gets A Significant Upgrade
Apple is placing increasing emphasis on AI performance across its devices, and the new iPad mini is no exception. With the A20 Pro, the company says AI workloads can run up to 4.5 times faster than on the outgoing model.
That should benefit features relying on on-device machine learning and Apple Intelligence, as well as third-party applications that make use of local AI acceleration. The compact tablet may therefore become increasingly useful for AI-assisted creative work, image processing and other workloads that previously demanded more powerful iPad models.
The performance boost also gives the iPad mini more headroom for future software features, helping extend its useful lifespan as iPadOS continues becoming more demanding.
Graphics Performance Is Up To 2.7 Times Faster
The A20 Pro also brings a major boost to graphics performance. Apple claims up to a 2.7x increase compared with the previous-generation iPad mini.
That improvement should make the device significantly better for games, 3D applications and creative software. Combined with the OLED display and compact form factor, the new model could become especially attractive to users who want a small but powerful gaming or media tablet.
The improved graphics hardware should also help applications involving video editing, rendering and other GPU-accelerated workloads.
WiFi 7 And Bluetooth 6 Are Included
Connectivity has received a substantial upgrade through Apple's new N1 wireless networking chip. The chip enables support for WiFi 7, providing higher potential speeds, lower latency and improved performance on compatible wireless networks.
Bluetooth has also been upgraded to Bluetooth 6, while Thread support is included for compatibility with connected home devices and other emerging accessories.
These upgrades help future-proof the iPad mini for newer wireless networks and make it better suited to users who increasingly rely on cloud applications, wireless peripherals and high-speed local connectivity.
Cellular Models Get Apple's C2 Modem
The WiFi + Cellular version of the new iPad mini is equipped with Apple's C2 modem, providing 5G mobile connectivity. This gives users the option of maintaining an internet connection without depending on nearby WiFi networks.
The inclusion of Apple's own modem continues the company's broader push towards controlling more of the silicon used inside its products. Integrating networking components more tightly with Apple-designed processors could eventually bring advantages in power efficiency and connectivity optimisation.
For users frequently travelling or working away from fixed networks, the cellular model remains the more flexible option, albeit at a higher starting price.
Battery Life Remains Around Ten Hours
Apple has fitted the new iPad mini with an 18.9Wh battery. Despite the faster processor, OLED panel and improved connectivity, the company still rates the tablet for up to 10 hours of web browsing over WiFi.
That figure remains broadly consistent with Apple's traditional battery-life target for its iPad lineup. Real-world endurance will naturally vary depending on display brightness, network usage and the types of applications being used.
The relatively small battery also highlights the efficiency improvements required to maintain respectable battery life inside such a thin 5.4mm chassis.
Front Camera Moves To The Landscape Edge
Apple has repositioned the 12MP Center Stage front camera to the landscape edge of the tablet. This should make video calls feel more natural when the iPad mini is being used horizontally, particularly when attached to a stand or paired with accessories.
The camera continues supporting Center Stage, allowing it to automatically adjust framing as the user moves around during a call. This repositioning follows a similar trend across the wider iPad lineup, where Apple has increasingly optimised camera placement for landscape use.
For remote meetings and video calls, the change should provide a noticeably better experience than the older portrait-oriented placement.
Rear Camera Supports Smart HDR 4 And 4K Video
The back of the tablet houses another 12MP camera, now supporting Smart HDR 4. While the iPad mini is unlikely to replace a smartphone as most people's primary camera, the upgraded processing should improve image quality for document scanning, quick photos and augmented-reality applications.
Video recording is supported at resolutions up to 4K at 60fps, giving users plenty of flexibility for casual content creation. Combined with the improved processor, the tablet should also be capable of editing those recordings directly without needing another device.
The compact size could make it particularly useful for users who need a portable camera and editing device in one package.
Apple Introduces An Acoustic Display
One of the more unusual additions is what Apple calls the Acoustic Display. Rather than relying entirely on conventional speakers positioned around the chassis, the system incorporates specially designed woofers that work through the display.
Apple says this approach delivers stronger bass and greater overall volume while helping preserve the tablet's extremely thin body. Custom tweeters are also positioned beneath the display to provide clearer high-frequency audio.
The design is particularly interesting because the iPad mini has very little internal space available for large conventional speakers. Using the display as part of the acoustic system allows Apple to push more sound from the compact chassis.
Apple Pencil Pro Support Arrives
The new iPad mini supports both the Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil Pro, expanding its usefulness for artists, students and users who frequently take handwritten notes.
Apple Pencil Pro support is especially notable because it brings the compact tablet closer to the capabilities of Apple's higher-end iPads. Users can take advantage of more advanced stylus functionality while maintaining the smaller and more portable form factor.
For digital sketching, annotation or note-taking, the combination of the OLED display and Pencil Pro could make this one of the most attractive versions of the iPad mini yet.
Two Colours And Three Storage Options
Apple will offer the new iPad mini in midnight and starlight finishes. Storage configurations start at 128GB and extend through 256GB to a maximum of 512GB.
The expanded storage range provides more flexibility for users working with larger applications, offline media libraries or creative files. However, the 512GB configuration also becomes particularly important because it is the only version that receives the full A20 Pro CPU configuration.
Buyers interested in the nano-texture display will also need to choose either the 256GB or 512GB model.
Pricing Starts At RM2,999
In Malaysia, pricing for the new iPad mini starts at RM2,999 for WiFi-only models. That puts the compact tablet firmly within Apple's premium tablet lineup despite its smaller physical size.
The WiFi + Cellular version starts from RM3,699, reflecting the added 5G hardware and connectivity capabilities.
Final pricing will naturally increase according to storage capacity, cellular connectivity and display options, particularly for customers choosing the highest-end 512GB configuration.
A New TechWoven Smart Folio Is Also Available
Apple is also launching a new TechWoven Smart Folio alongside the tablet. The accessory is priced at RM349 and is designed specifically around the dimensions of the refreshed iPad mini.
The folio provides protection while doubling as a stand, making it useful for video viewing, FaceTime calls and productivity work. Apple's first-party accessories are rarely inexpensive, but the Smart Folio remains one of the most straightforward ways to protect the tablet while maintaining its thin profile.
Apple Pencil options will continue to be sold separately.
Pre-Orders Open On 29 October
Pre-orders for the 8th-generation iPad mini will begin on Thursday, 29 October 2026. Customers will then be able to purchase the tablet through general retail channels beginning 6 November 2026.
The relatively short gap between pre-orders and retail availability suggests Apple is ready for a rapid launch rather than announcing the product months before shipping.
The timing also places the new iPad mini ahead of Apple's upcoming "Pro and tell" event, allowing the company to refresh one part of its tablet portfolio before turning attention towards other hardware.
A Much More Serious Compact Tablet
The iPad mini has historically occupied an interesting position in Apple's lineup. Its smaller display makes it extremely portable, but previous generations sometimes lagged behind the company's larger tablets in display technology and processing performance.
The 8th-generation model appears designed to close that gap significantly. OLED, A20 Pro performance, WiFi 7, Apple Pencil Pro support and the new acoustic system give it specifications that would not look out of place on a much larger premium tablet.
The result is a device that feels less like the small entry-level iPad and more like a compact alternative for users who genuinely prefer the smaller form factor.
Final Thoughts
Apple's new 8th-generation iPad mini represents one of the biggest upgrades the compact tablet has received in years. The move to an 8.5-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display, significantly slimmer bezels and a remarkably thin 5.4mm body immediately modernises the design, while IP67 protection adds some welcome durability.
The A20 Pro delivers major gains in CPU, graphics and AI performance, although buyers should remember that only the 512GB model receives the same full chip configuration used in the iPhone 18 Pro series. WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6, Apple's C2 modem, Apple Pencil Pro support and repositioned cameras further strengthen the overall package.
Starting at RM2,999 for WiFi and RM3,699 for WiFi + Cellular, it certainly is not a cheap small tablet. But Apple is clearly positioning this generation as something much more capable than a compact media device.
For users who have always liked the portability of the iPad mini but wanted performance and display technology closer to Apple's premium models, this may finally be the version that delivers both.
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