The new iPad mini offers the full iPad experience users can hold in the palm of their hand.
Apple officially unveiled the new iPad mini featuring an 8.5-inch OLED display, the A20 Pro processor, and an IP67 water and dust resistance rating. The updated device maintains the physical footprint of the prior generation while reducing bezel thickness by 24 percent. Pre-orders began on Wednesday, October 28, with commercial availability scheduled for Friday, November 6 in 36 countries, including Saudi Arabia.
Specifications of the new iPad mini
The updated Super Retina XDR display uses OLED technology to provide individual pixel lighting control alongside a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Peak brightness reaches up to 1,200 nits, which is twice the level found on the predecessor model, while full-screen brightness stands at 600 nits. Furthermore, the display supports a 1-nit minimum brightness setting and offers an optional nano-texture finish designed to minimize ambient glare in bright working environments.
The hardware enclosure measures 5.4 millimeters in thickness and comes in two finishes, midnight and starlight. With an IP67 rating, the chassis protects internal components against particulate ingress and liquid exposure. The company also integrated an Acoustic Display setup that combines woofers operating through the screen with custom tweeters located between the glass and aluminum enclosure.
A20 Pro Processing and Graphics
Built on a 2-nanometer manufacturing process, the A20 Pro processor includes a 6-core central processing unit delivering up to 60 percent higher multithreaded performance. Meanwhile, the 7-core graphics processing unit integrates hardware-accelerated ray tracing, mesh shading, and dynamic caching, increasing graphics throughput by up to 2.7 times for demanding applications in gaming and visual rendering.
For tasks involving artificial intelligence, the processor incorporates dedicated Neural Accelerators inside each graphics core. The 512GB storage configuration includes a Dual 16-core Neural Engine that doubles hardware processing capability to support on-device machine learning workflows. Unified memory bandwidth has also doubled compared to the previous model, improving general responsiveness across intensive workloads.
Wireless Upgrades and Audio Hardware
Connectivity features rely on Apple-designed silicon, starting with the N1 chip that supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and the Thread protocol. Consequently, cellular configurations incorporate the C2 modem, which provides up to 50 percent faster cellular data rates alongside support for digital eSIM provisioning. The updated camera module moves the 12MP Center Stage front lens to the landscape edge, while the rear 12MP camera adds an Adaptive True Tone flash for documents and photography.
“With a remarkably thinner and lighter design, a stunning new OLED display, the incredibly powerful A20 Pro, and water and dust resistance, the new iPad mini is a huge leap forward for users who love having the full iPad experience in the palm of their hand.”
Dave Pakula, Vice President of Hardware Engineering at Apple
Pricing and Regional Availability
The base Wi-Fi model for the new iPad mini starts at SAR 3,299, while the Wi-Fi plus Cellular configuration begins at SAR 3,999. In addition, education pricing lowers the starting cost to SAR 3,059. Available storage options include 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB tiers across both color selections.
Optional accessories for mobile devices include the redesigned TechWoven Smart Folio in navy blue and taupe for SAR 379. The tablet supports Apple Pencil Pro, priced at SAR 592, as well as the standard Apple Pencil with USB-C priced at SAR 349. Operating system support is powered by iPadOS 27, which introduces customized interface controls and external monitor window support via version 27.2.
