The redesigned tablet introduces water and dust resistance, stronger on-device AI performance, and a landscape front camera, with UAE prices starting at Dh2,849.
Apple has unveiled a redesigned iPad mini featuring an 8.5-inch OLED display, its A20 Pro processor and IP67-rated water and dust resistance, expanding the compact tablet’s capabilities for mobile work, content creation and entertainment.
UAE pre-orders open on 28 October, with availability beginning on 6 November. Prices start at Dh2,849 for the Wi-Fi model and Dh3,449 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular version.
The new model measures 5.4mm thick and comes in midnight and starlight finishes, with storage options of 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. Apple says the design is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, while narrower bezels accommodate a larger display within the same footprint.
The Super Retina XDR display brings OLED technology to iPad mini, offering deeper blacks, a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and support for the P3 wide colour gamut. Peak brightness reaches 1,200 nits, while full-screen brightness is rated at 600 nits for SDR and HDR content.
A minimum brightness of one nit supports use in darker environments. Apple is also introducing a nano-texture display option to reduce glare, targeting users such as creatives editing outdoors and technicians working in bright conditions.
“iPad mini is beloved for its fantastic portability, performance, and display by a wide range of users, from creators and small business owners to doctors, field service workers, and gamers,” said Dave Pakula, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering.
Performance improvements centre on A20 Pro, built using a two-nanometre manufacturing process. The processor includes a seven-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in each core, supporting workloads such as running local AI models, image processing and graphics-intensive applications.
According to Apple’s testing, the tablet delivers up to 4.5 times faster AI performance, up to 2.7 times faster graphics performance and up to 60% faster multithreaded CPU performance than the previous generation. Actual gains will depend on the application and workload.
The 512GB configuration includes a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, providing 32 cores for supported on-device AI tasks. Apple also reports more than double the unified memory bandwidth of the previous generation.
Camera and audio changes address video collaboration and media use. A 12MP Centre Stage front camera moves to the landscape edge, positioning it for video calls when the tablet is used horizontally. The rear 12MP Wide camera supports Smart HDR 4 and 4K video recording at up to 60 frames per second, alongside an Adaptive True Tone flash for photography and document scanning.
Apple’s new Acoustic Display pairs specially designed woofers through the screen, with tweeters concealed between the glass and aluminium enclosure. The company says the arrangement improves bass, volume and high-frequency clarity.
Connectivity upgrades include Apple’s N1 wireless networking chip, bringing Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread support. Cellular versions feature the C2 modem, which Apple says enables up to 50% faster cellular data speeds than the previous iPad mini, subject to network and carrier conditions.
The IP67 rating covers laboratory testing at a maximum depth of one metre for up to 30 minutes. Water and dust resistance can diminish through normal wear, and liquid damage is excluded from the warranty.
The tablet runs iPadOS 27, including additional controls for personalising the Liquid Glass interface. Extended display mode is scheduled to arrive with iPadOS 27.2, enabling users to work with windowed applications on a connected external screen.
Accessory support includes Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), priced at Dh529 and Dh319 respectively. A new TechWoven Smart Folio, available in navy blue and taupe, costs Dh339 and offers adjustable viewing angles. Accessories are sold separately.
Education pricing for the new iPad mini starts at Dh 2,649.
Source: Tahawul Tech