New iPad mini Has a Smaller Battery, but Runtime Stays at 10 Hours
The OLED iPad mini carries a 4,900mAh battery, down from 5,034mAh, yet Apple still rates video playback at up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi.
Apple's new OLED iPad mini has a smaller battery than its predecessor, but the company says endurance has not changed. According to the energy label Apple submitted in the EU, the tablet's battery capacity is 4,900mAh, down 134mAh from the 5,034mAh cell in the previous model.
Despite the reduction, Apple's specifications list up to 10 hours of video playback over Wi-Fi, the same figure as the older iPad mini.
Why the runtime holds
The gap is covered by efficiency gains. The switch to an OLED panel lowers power consumption, and the A20 Pro chip is more power-efficient, which together offset the lost capacity.
The smaller cell fits the redesign. The new iPad mini is noticeably slimmer and lighter than the model it replaces, and it is even thinner than the iPhone Air. Trimming the battery is one of the trade-offs that made that slimmer body possible.
What it means for buyers
For most people, the lower capacity should not translate into shorter days away from the charger, at least based on Apple's own rating. Buyers upgrading from the previous generation get the OLED display and a lighter device without giving up the official runtime.
The figure also highlights a long-running pattern: iPads are typically rated at around 10 hours of video playback, while Apple quotes far higher numbers for iPhones, with some models listed at 33 or 40 hours. The rating methods differ between product lines, and the new iPad mini continues the familiar 10-hour benchmark.
Real-world endurance will depend on brightness, content and usage, and independent testing will show whether the 10-hour claim holds up with the smaller battery.
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