New iPad Mini Hands-on: Refreshed Design, OLED Display, More
Apple’s refreshed compact tablet uses a thinner OLED design, adds IP67 water resistance and starts at $699, the company’s second price increase this year.
- Apple unveiled the new iPad mini on Monday featuring an 8.5-inch OLED display, IP67 water resistance, and the A20 Pro chip, starting at $699 with 128GB of storage.
- This refresh marks the second price increase this year for the tablet, which started at $499, rose to $599 in June, and now sits at $699. Apple attributes the hike to the AI-fuelled RAM crisis raising chip costs.
- The tablet's 8.5-inch OLED screen reaches 1,200 nits peak brightness but remains limited to 60Hz. Critics note the absence of ProMotion, which Apple uses for displays that "go up to 120Hz."
- Positioned at $699, the mini costs $250 more than the base iPad and just $50 less than the iPad Air, forcing buyers to weigh portability against larger, more capable displays.
- While the design is more robust and water-resistant, analysts suggest owners of 2024 models should stick with what they have. Upgrading makes sense for those using a 2021 iPad mini or older.
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12 Articles
The Independent
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New iPad mini hands-on: Refreshed design, OLED display, more
Apple’s smallest iPad has gotten its biggest update in years. The new iPad mini features a much thinner and lighter design, a larger OLED display, water resistance, and the powerful A20 Pro chip. I’ve been testing the new iPad mini, and there’s a lot to like — but also a couple of frustrations. Here’s everything you need to know. Pre-order the new iPad mini now more…
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