Apple has unveiled a redesigned iPad mini with an 8.5-inch OLED display and an A20 Pro chip, and it will cost from S$999 in Singapore. Pre-orders open on Thursday, 29 October, with units arriving from Friday, 6 November.
Key Takeaways
- The iPad mini gets an 8.5-inch OLED display, a 5.4 mm body and IP67 water and dust resistance.
- The A20 Pro chip delivers up to 4.5x faster AI performance than the previous generation.
- Singapore pricing starts at S$999 for Wi-Fi and S$1,229 for Wi-Fi + Cellular, with pre-orders from 29 October.
OLED display fits the same footprint
The new screen measures 8.5 inches but keeps the same footprint as the previous iPad mini, thanks to bezels that are 24 per cent thinner. Apple says peak brightness reaches 1,200 nits, more than double the last generation, with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a minimum brightness of 1 nit for dark rooms. A nano-texture option is available to cut glare.
The body is 5.4 mm thin and comes in midnight and starlight. It carries an IP67 rating, so it can handle dust and splashes. Apple notes that this resistance is not permanent and can wear over time.
A20 Pro chip targets on-device AI
The iPad mini runs on the A20 Pro, built on a 2-nanometre process. Apple claims up to 4.5x faster AI performance, up to 2.7x faster graphics and up to 60 per cent faster multithreaded CPU performance than the previous model. The 512GB configuration adds a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, which Apple says doubles the processing power of the last generation for heavier on-device AI work.
The new iPad mini is “a huge leap forward for users who love having the full iPad experience in the palm of their hand,” said Dave Pakula, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering.
Siri AI, faster connectivity and a new camera
The tablet ships with iPadOS 27 and Siri AI, which rolls out in beta and is available in English, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. Apple says the assistant can draw on a user’s messages, emails and photos, and act on what is on screen. Apple Intelligence uses on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute.
Apple’s new N1 chip brings Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, while cellular models get the C2 modem, which Apple says is up to 50 per cent faster than before. The front camera is now a 12MP Center Stage unit on the landscape edge, and the speakers sit behind the display in what Apple calls an Acoustic Display.
iPad mini Singapore price and availability
Pre-orders open on Thursday, 29 October, at apple.com/sg and in the Apple Store app, across 36 countries and regions including Singapore. The iPad mini comes in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB configurations.
- Wi-Fi model: from S$999, or S$929 with education savings
- Wi-Fi + Cellular model: from S$1,229
- Smart Folio: S$119
- Apple Pencil Pro: S$199, or S$179 with education savings
- Apple Pencil (USB-C): S$119, or S$99 with education savings
