The detail worth reading in Apple's new iPad mini spec sheet isn't the OLED screen. It's the CPU core count. The 128GB and 256GB models ship with a five-core CPU, one fewer than the iPad mini they replace. Only the 512GB model gets six cores and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, and PhoneArena lists that one at $999 for Wi-Fi. That's why Apple's speed claims all say "up to."
The rest of the update is real. The screen grows to 8.5 inches, with bezels trimmed by 24%. The body is 5.4 mm thick and weighs 0.56 pound. Apple quotes peak brightness of up to 1,200 nits, more than double the last model, and the tablet gets an IP67 water and dust rating. There's also a landscape front camera and a speaker setup Apple calls Acoustic Display. A nano-texture glass option, the glare-cutting finish from the iPad Pro, costs $100 extra and is only offered on the 256GB and 512GB models.
The price
The Wi-Fi model with 128GB starts at $699, and Wi-Fi + Cellular starts at $849. The 256GB Wi-Fi model is $799. That's $200 over the $499 the 2024 model launched at. Apple raised that older model to $599 in June, so the gap you're really weighing is $100.
What's still missing
Apple didn't say what refresh rate the new OLED runs at. PhoneArena flagged that as an open question, and one retailer's write-up of Apple's comparison page says there's no 120Hz ProMotion listed. That isn't confirmed by Apple, so treat it as likely rather than settled. If it's true, a $699 tablet you scroll and write on all day will still feel a step behind pricier iPads. The older mini's 60Hz screen and jelly scrolling were already its main complaints.
Who should care
If you have a 2024 iPad mini and it works, skip this. A better screen and water resistance don't justify $699, particularly with a five-core chip in the tier you'd probably buy. If you want a small tablet for reading in bed, travel or the kitchen, the OLED and IP67 are the best reasons to upgrade, and the $599 older model is the cheaper fallback. Anyone planning to pay for 512GB just to get the full chip should do the math against the larger iPads first, because $999 is a lot for a mini.
What to do before you buy
Pre-orders open Wednesday, October 28, in 36 countries, including the US. Deliveries and store availability start Friday, November 6, in midnight and starlight. Wait for independent reviews and benchmarks that compare the five-core and six-core versions, and check the refresh rate. If the screen is stuck at 60Hz, that's your cue to hold off.
Sources: PhoneArena, TechCrunch, Thurrott.com, DealnTech, AppleMagazine, Zeera Wireless
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