By Tech Gear Hub • Last updated: October 26, 2026
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Tech Gear Hub breaks down Apple's new iPad mini (2026), the biggest upgrade the smallest iPad has ever received. Announced on October 26, 2026, the new iPad mini brings an 8.5-inch OLED display to the mini line for the first time, pairs it with the A20 Pro chip, and adds IP67 water and dust resistance in a body just 5.4mm thin. It starts at $699, pre-orders open Wednesday, October 28, and it reaches stores on Friday, November 6. Below you will find the full price breakdown, the complete specs, our on-paper scores, and an honest answer to the only question that matters: should you buy it?
Quick Verdict: The new iPad mini (2026) starts at $699 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model, with pre-orders from October 28 and availability on November 6. The first-ever OLED screen, the A20 Pro chip and IP67 resistance make it a genuine flagship in a small body. For most people who want a powerful one-hand tablet for reading, media and travel, this is now the iPad mini to buy.
Contents:
• Price and release date
• The first OLED display on an iPad mini
• A20 Pro performance
• Design, colors and water resistance
• Full specs and our on-paper scores
• Accessories worth adding
• Who should buy it — and who should not
• FAQ
New iPad mini price and release date
The new iPad mini starts at $699 for the Wi-Fi model and $849 for Wi-Fi + Cellular, per Apple's announcement as reported by MacRumors. Storage comes in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB configurations. Pre-orders open on Wednesday, October 28 at 10:10 a.m. Pacific Time on apple.com and in the Apple Store app, with availability starting Friday, November 6. It comes in two finishes, Midnight and Starlight, and Apple sells a matching TechWoven Smart Folio for $79.
That $699 starting price is a real step up for the mini line, and it is the single most important number in this launch. The new iPad mini costs $699 in the United States, which puts it closer to flagship territory than any mini before it. Whether the upgrades justify it depends on what you use a small tablet for — we get to that below.
The first OLED display on an iPad mini
The headline upgrade is the screen. The new iPad mini features an 8.5-inch OLED display — the first OLED panel ever fitted to an iPad mini. OLED brings perfect blacks, far better contrast and richer color than the LCD panels every previous mini used, which makes a visible difference in exactly the things the mini is best at: reading in bed, watching movies on a flight, and browsing photos. If you have ever compared an OLED phone screen with an LCD side by side at night, you already know this is not a small change.
Inside is Apple's A20 Pro chip, the same class of silicon that powers Apple's Pro phones. For a tablet people mostly use for reading, streaming, notes and light gaming, that is a lot of headroom — apps open instantly, games hold high frame rates, and the mini should stay fast for years of software updates. It also means the new iPad mini is not a " lite" device in any performance sense; on paper it out-muscles many full-size tablets that cost more.
Design, colors and water resistance
The new body is just 5.4mm thin, and for the first time the iPad mini carries an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance — a genuine first for any iPad. IP67 means the device is rated to survive immersion in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes under test conditions; in everyday terms, a spilled coffee, a splash by the pool or rain on a commute stops being a disaster. It ships in Midnight and Starlight finishes.
Full specs and our on-paper scores
| Specification | New iPad mini (2026) |
|---|
| Display | 8.5-inch OLED |
| Chip | Apple A20 Pro |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB |
| Water resistance | IP67 (dust and water) |
| Thickness | 5.4mm |
| Colors | Midnight, Starlight |
| Price | From $699 (Wi-Fi), $849 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) |
| Pre-orders | October 28, 2026 |
| Release date | November 6, 2026 |
Our on-paper scores (from the spec sheet — not hands-on; we will update after real-world testing): Display 9.5/10, Portability 9/10, Value 7.5/10. The value score is where the debate lives: the hardware is excellent, but $699 asks a lot for an 8.5-inch tablet.
Accessories worth adding
Apple's own TechWoven Smart Folio ($79, sold by Apple) is the natural cover. Beyond that, two add-ons from our tested guides pair well with a travel-size tablet:
Who should buy it — and who should not
Buy the new iPad mini if: you read, watch and browse on the go and want the best screen ever put in a small tablet; you travel a lot and value a 5.4mm, one-hand device; or your older mini is slowing down and you want a machine that will stay fast for years.
Who should NOT buy it: skip this one if you mainly want a laptop replacement — the 8.5-inch screen is small for split-screen work, and a larger iPad will serve you better. Skip it if your current mini still does everything you need and the $699 price feels steep for a secondary device; the upgrades are real, but they are luxuries, not necessities, for light use.
New iPad mini (2026) FAQ
How much does the new iPad mini cost?
The new iPad mini starts at $699 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model in the US. The Wi-Fi + Cellular model starts at $849.
When can you buy the new iPad mini?
Pre-orders open on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 10:10 a.m. Pacific Time, and the new iPad mini goes on sale on Friday, November 6, 2026.
Is the new iPad mini waterproof?
The new iPad mini has an IP67 rating, which means it resists dust and can survive immersion in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes in test conditions. It is splash- and spill-resistant for everyday use, not a device for swimming.
What is new in the iPad mini (2026) compared with the old model?
The 2026 iPad mini adds an 8.5-inch OLED display for the first time, the A20 Pro chip, IP67 water and dust resistance, and a thinner 5.4mm body.
Which colors does the new iPad mini come in?
The new iPad mini comes in two colors: Midnight and Starlight, with storage options of 128GB, 256GB and 512GB.
The bottom line
Apple did not just refresh the iPad mini — it rebuilt it around an OLED screen, a Pro-class chip and water resistance, and priced it like it knows it. At $699 it is no longer the cheap small tablet; it is the best small tablet, full stop. If that is what you have been waiting for, pre-orders open October 28.
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