The news
Apple announced an updated iPad mini that swaps the prior A17 Pro silicon for an A20 Pro chip, moves to an 8.5-inch OLED panel, and fits the larger screen inside a thinner, lighter body that adds water and dust resistance. The tablet launches in starlight and midnight finishes with 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB storage. Pricing opens at $700 for the base 128 GB model.
Context
The prior iPad mini shipped with the A17 Pro and started at $500 for 128 GB storage through mid-2025. Apple raised those prices by $100 across all tiers in June 2025, bringing the 128 GB model to $600. The new version increases screen size from the previous 8.3-inch LCD, adopts OLED for the first time in this line, and carries a $100–$200 premium over the post-hike A17 Pro prices at every storage level. Cellular adds $150 to any configuration. A $100 nano-texture display option appears for the first time on the iPad mini but is restricted to the 256 GB and 512 GB models.
Details
Apple’s product page lists three storage options and two finishes. The 128 GB model costs $700, the 256 GB model $800, and the 512 GB model $1,000. Adding cellular raises each price by $150. The nano-texture coating, which reduces glare on the OLED panel, adds another $100 but only on the two higher-capacity units.
By comparison, the A17 Pro iPad mini after the June 2025 increase listed at $600, $700, and $900 for the same storage tiers. Before that increase the same capacities started at $500, $600, and $800. The new model therefore carries a $100–$200 premium over the immediately preceding generation at every storage level.
Apple’s comparison chart shows the A20 Pro as faster than the A17 Pro while confirming the shift to the larger OLED panel inside the reduced chassis. A one-minute commercial released with the announcement showed the device in the two available colors. The company has not released exact weight or thickness figures, only stating that the new design is slightly thinner and lighter than its predecessor while adding water and dust resistance.
Why it matters
The price increase moves the entry point for a current-generation iPad mini above the previous $500 starting point and places it in direct range of the lower end of the iPad Air lineup. Buyers who want the smaller form factor now pay more for the OLED upgrade and the A20 Pro processor, while those who already own the A17 Pro model see no immediate reason to replace it unless the new screen size or durability features matter. The nano-texture option further raises the cost for users who prefer reduced glare, limiting that choice to higher-storage units only.
For developers and users who value the compact size, the update brings modern display and chip technology but at a clear premium over recent pricing. The move also narrows the gap between the mini and the 11-inch M4 iPad Air, which already uses OLED and stronger silicon; customers must now decide whether the smaller footprint justifies the added cost or whether stepping up to the larger Air makes more sense at similar money. The absence of a lower-priced LCD option removes the previous budget path into the mini lineup, so anyone seeking an 8-inch-class tablet from Apple faces higher minimum spend than they did six months ago.
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