Apple today announced the eighth-generation iPad mini , introducing a larger OLED display, a thinner and lighter design, the A20 Pro chip, and water and dust resistance, but how much does it differ from the previous model? The new iPad mini starts at $699 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model and $849 with cellular connectivity. With the prior generation now discontinued, buyers also face a choice between paying for the new features and finding a cheaper A17 Pro model. Both offer the same storage capacities, advertised battery life, Touch ID authentication, and USB-C transfer speeds, so the new model does not improve every aspect of the experience. Here are the key differences between the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip from 2024 and the iPad mini with the A20 Pro chip from 2026: iPad mini (seventh generation, 2024) iPad mini (eighth generation, 2026)
Super Retina XDR OLED display with 1-nit minimum brightness and 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio
600 nits maximum SDR and full-screen HDR brightness; 1,200 nits peak HDR brightness
Optional nano-texture display glass on 256GB and 512GB models for an additional $100, supplied with a polishing cloth
IP67 water and dust resistance, rated for a maximum depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
A20 Pro chip, with CPU and Neural Engine configurations varying by storage capacity
Acoustic Display with display-coupled woofers and concealed tweeters, without external speaker holes
Apple C2 5G modem; up to 50% faster cellular data speeds according to Apple (Cellular models only)
Fast charging up to 50% in around 30 minutes with a 35W or higher USB-C power adapter
Source link







