HardwareNov 3, 2026, 9:13 PM UTC·2 min read

iPad mini (A20 Pro) review: OLED and a big update at $699

Apple's new iPad mini gains an OLED screen, the A20 Pro chip and IP67 protection. The verdict: a great small tablet, but the $699 starting price is steep.

The new iPad mini with an OLED display held in one hand, shown in midnight color. — Image: Engadget

SUMO

Dialo

ediviewer

The new iPad mini is the best small tablet Apple has made, but at $699 it is a harder sell than ever. Nearly every part of the device has been improved, and the price now puts it close to iPad Pro territory.

What changed

The screen grows from 8.3 to 8.5 inches, yet the tablet is thinner and lighter: 5.4mm instead of 6.3mm, and 0.56 pounds instead of 0.65 (0.58 for cellular models). Bezels are noticeably slimmer, though still wide. Colors are limited to midnight and starlight.

The headline change is the first OLED display on an iPad mini. Peak HDR brightness reaches 1,200 nits, double the previous model, while SDR brightness rises from 500 to 600 nits and the minimum drops to 1 nit. Apple lists a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, far above the roughly 1000:1 of its recent LCD screens. Blacks look deep, and video, games and web browsing all benefit. The reviewer's main complaint is the 60Hz refresh rate, with ProMotion still reserved for the iPad Pro.

Inside is the new A20 Pro, launched alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo, replacing the A17 Pro. The mini is also the first iPad with IP67 dust and water resistance, made possible by a new "Acoustic Display" system that puts the tweeter and woofers beneath the display and removes the side speaker holes. Bass is noticeably stronger, and the older model sounds tinny by comparison. It is also the second iPad with fast charging, after last year's iPad Pro, and the front camera now sits on the landscape edge.

Nano-texture and price

The optional nano-texture glass scatters bright light and, combined with OLED, made for an exceptional viewing experience in testing. It costs extra: it is not offered on the 128GB base model, so the cheapest route is $899 for 256GB, or $1,049 with 5G.

The iPad mini starts at $699 with 128GB, which is $200 more than the last model at launch two years ago and $100 more than Apple charged after its price increases this past summer. The reviewer calls it almost an "iPad Pro mini" and doubts the price will be worth it for most buyers.