Apple VP talks new iPad mini: OLED without ProMotion, Acoustic Display, more

Apple has unveiled its most significant update to date for the iPad mini, introducing a thinner and lighter design alongside an OLED display. In two separate interviews, Dave Pakula, Apple's vice president of Hardware Engineering, discussed the new iPad mini's design, display, and more. According to Pakula, the new iPad mini uses an OLED display but lacks ProMotion technology, settling for a 60Hz refresh rate.

Pakula elaborated on the display's benefits in an interview with Chris Lawley. He explained that OLED's pixel response time is significantly faster than LCD displays, making motion blur negligible and enhancing the overall smoothness of the visual experience. Furthermore, the OLED's contrast, brightness, and color reproduction were highlighted as key advantages, rendering it a "killer display."

In addition to the display updates, the new iPad mini boasts improved water and dust resistance, becoming the first iPad with IP67 certification. This enhancement is attributed to a novel "Acoustic Display" technology. As Pakula explained, the unique dimensions of the new display have a resonant frequency within the audible range, enabling the emission of sound directly through the enclosure.

This acoustic feature benefits mainly the mid and low-frequency ranges, while higher frequencies are addressed by custom tweeters strategically positioned at each end of the product.

Pakula further discussed how the iPad mini complements the iPhone Duo within the market landscape, emphasizing its comprehensive functionality as a full iPad experience within a handheld device. With access to over a million apps, powerful accessories like the Apple Pencil Pro, and advanced multitasking capabilities through iPadOS 27, the iPad mini continues to offer unparalleled versatility. The new iPad mini is now available for pre-order, with deliveries expected to commence on November 6.