New iPad mini vs previous model: Here’s everything new

Apple unveiled a new iPad mini today, bringing significant upgrades compared to its previous model. The redesigned iPad mini shares a similar look but boasts two main design changes. Measuring 132.6mm wide, the new mini is narrower than the previous 134.8mm. Weighing 255 grams, it also weighs less than the 293 grams of Wi-Fi models. The front-facing Center Stage camera, previously in portrait orientation, is now positioned on the landscape side.

Apple offers the iPad mini in two new colors: Midnight and Starlight, replacing the previous options of Space Gray and Starlight. Thanks to reduced bezels, the new iPad mini features a larger, 8.5-inch OLED display, an upgrade from the 8.3-inch LCD display of the previous model. The OLED display offers pixel-level lighting control for deeper blacks, wide color gamut support for vivid and accurate imagery, and peak brightness of 1200 nits, double the previous maximum of 600 nits. Standard SDR and HDR brightness has been increased to 600 nits.

Optional nano-texture display is now available on 256GB models and above, a feature previously absent in the iPad mini. The new iPad mini is powered by Apple's A20 Pro chip, the most powerful mobile processor, debuting first in iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. This new chip delivers a significant performance leap for the iPad mini, boosting graphics and AI-intensive tasks.

With a 7-core GPU and Neural Accelerators in each GPU core, it offers up to 4.5x faster AI performance and 2.7x faster graphics performance compared to the previous generation. The A20 Pro chip also features up to a 6-core CPU for faster multithreaded performance and 2x increase in unified memory bandwidth.

A key improvement in the new iPad mini is the innovative Acoustic Display for audio. This technology delivers an even better audio experience during gaming, video watching, or content creation. The display features specially designed woofers and custom tweeters hidden between the glass and aluminum enclosure, producing punchier bass, clearer highs, and increased volume. The sealed enclosure of the Acoustic Display enables IP67 water and dust resistance, making the iPad mini more versatile than before.

In terms of connectivity, the new iPad mini integrates Apple's N1 and C2 chips, which enhance wireless capabilities. Additionally, the new model supports fast charging, providing up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with a 35W adapter or higher. Pre-orders for the new iPad mini will open on October 28 at 10:10 a.m. PT, with deliveries set for November 6.