Apple has redesigned the iPad mini around an OLED display, and it is the first iPad with a water resistance rating. The new model was announced on Monday, October 26, 2026, starts at $699 in the US and Rs 82,900 in India, and goes on sale on Friday, November 6, after pre-orders opened on October 28.
It is the second iPad to use OLED, following the iPad Pro, and the first in the small-tablet range. Apple has paired the new screen with a faster chip, a thinner body and an unusual approach to audio.
An OLED panel at 8.5 inches
The display grows from 8.3 inches to 8.5 inches. Cult of Mac lists a resolution of 2,316 by 1,512 pixels at 326 pixels per inch, and Engadget reports a peak brightness of 1,200 nits and a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1. There is no ProMotion, so the refresh rate does not adapt up to 120Hz the way it does on the iPad Pro. MacRumors notes that a nano-texture glass option is offered on select models, and Engadget says it costs extra on the 256GB and 512GB versions.
The tablet comes in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage sizes, according to Cult of Mac. MacRumors adds that the 512GB model gets an extra CPU core and a dual Neural Engine, which makes it the performance pick if you plan to use on-device AI tools heavily.
Chip and software
Engadget identifies the processor as the A20 Pro, the same chip used in the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone Duo. Cult of Mac's text calls it an A20 processor in one place while quoting Apple naming the A20 Pro in another, so the naming is not perfectly consistent across coverage. Apple's own phrasing, as quoted by Cult of Mac, is "the incredibly powerful A20 Pro." The tablet runs iPadOS 27 and supports Touch ID, with USB-C for charging and accessories.
Fast charging requires a 35W power adapter, which Apple sells separately, according to Tom's Guide. A new TechWoven Smart Folio costs $79, MacRumors reports.
Design: IP67 and a speakerless face
The most striking change is durability. MacRumors says this is the first water-resistant iPad, and Cult of Mac lists an IP67 rating, which covers dust and brief immersion in shallow water. Tom's Guide reports the thickness has dropped from 6.3mm to 5.4mm, which matches the 0.21 inches Cult of Mac gives. The Wi-Fi model weighs 0.56 pounds.
To achieve the sealed, thinner body, Apple has removed the visible speaker grilles. MacRumors and Tom's Guide both describe an under-display "acoustic display" that produces sound through the screen. We have no listening tests yet, so how it compares with the old speakers is untested. The front camera sits on the landscape edge with Center Stage support, and an adaptive True Tone flash joins the rear camera. Tom's Guide counts only two colour choices, and Beebom names them as Midnight and Starlight.
| Feature | New iPad mini |
|---|---|
| Display | 8.5-inch OLED, 2,316 x 1,512, 326 ppi |
| Peak brightness | 1,200 nits (Engadget) |
| Chip | A20 Pro (Engadget) |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Water and dust | IP67 |
| Thickness | 5.4mm (0.21 in) |
| Weight (Wi-Fi) | 0.56 lb |
| Starting price (US) | $699 |
| Starting price (India) | Rs 82,900 |
| Ships | November 6, 2026 |
Price in the US
The $699 starting price is confirmed by both Engadget and Cult of Mac. MacRumors says it follows a second price increase on the mini earlier this year. The two outlets disagree on what the previous model cost, with Cult of Mac recalling a launch price of $499 that later rose to $599 and Engadget implying $549 after a June increase, so we are not stating a precise gap. Neither source gave US prices for the higher storage tiers. Cult of Mac says pre-orders opened in 36 countries including the US.
India pricing and availability
The new iPad mini is on sale in India from November 6, with pre-orders open since October 28, a date Apple's India page confirms. Beebom, CXO Digitalpulse and T2 Online all report the same prices, starting at Rs 82,900 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model. Beebom puts the previous model's starting price at Rs 69,900, a rise of Rs 13,000.
| Variant | Standard glass | Nano-texture glass |
|---|---|---|
| 128GB Wi-Fi | Rs 82,900 | Not offered |
| 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular | Rs 1,00,900 | Not offered |
| 256GB Wi-Fi | Rs 94,900 | Rs 1,06,900 |
| 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular | Rs 1,12,900 | Rs 1,24,900 |
| 512GB Wi-Fi | Rs 1,18,900 | Rs 1,30,900 |
| 512GB Wi-Fi + Cellular | Rs 1,36,900 | Rs 1,48,900 |
T2 Online lists education pricing from Rs 76,900, the Apple Pencil Pro at Rs 11,900, the USB-C Apple Pencil at Rs 7,900 and the Smart Folio at Rs 8,500. Apple India's banner offers up to 12 months of No Cost EMI and Rs 3,000 instant cashback on eligible cards, with the EMI window running through November 11, 2026.
Who it is for
The mini has always been the iPad for people who read, sketch and travel with one hand. OLED helps with the first of those, since reading in a dark room is where LCD looks weakest, and IP67 suits anyone who takes a tablet to the kitchen, the beach or the gym. The missing ProMotion is the compromise, particularly for Apple Pencil users who have come to expect a smoother feel on the iPad Pro.
Apple raised trade-in values for iPads and Macs during the same event, according to MacRumors, which softens the price for owners of an older mini.
What to watch next
Hands-on and battery testing will arrive once review units ship, and the real test will be the screen-based speakers. Stock and delivery dates in India will become clearer when the first orders begin arriving on November 6.
Published October 29, 2026. Gadgets365 will update this article as more information becomes available.
