Apple has built speakers you cannot see into the new iPad Mini. The tablet's Acoustic Display system fires sound through specially designed woofers mounted beneath the OLED panel, paired with hidden tweeters for the higher end, according to Apple. The company says the setup delivers punchier bass and more volume than before, and because there are no speaker holes left to seal, Apple has given the Mini an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, a first for this line.
It is an unusual way to build a tablet speaker. The closest comparison is the actuator-driven sound systems Sony uses in some of its OLED televisions, where the panel itself vibrates to produce audio instead of relying on separate drivers. Dolby Atmos still works here, either through supported headphones or straight out of the Acoustic Display hardware.
A bigger, brighter screen in the same body
The headline upgrade is the OLED panel itself, Apple's Super Retina XDR technology making its way to a non-Pro iPad for the first time. What Hi-Fi? Reports the display measures 8.7 inches, up from 8.3 inches on the outgoing model, while Digit's reporting on the India launch puts the figure at 8.5 inches. Apple has not clarified the discrepancy, though both outlets agree the tablet's footprint has not grown, thanks to bezels Apple says are 24 percent thinner.
Brightness tops out at 1,200 nits, twice the previous generation, with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG. Apple's glare-cutting Nano-Texture finish, previously reserved for the iPad Pro and the iPhone Duo, is available here too, but only on the 256GB and 512GB models. The 128GB version ships glossy only. There's no ProMotion, so the panel is capped at a 60Hz refresh rate regardless of which storage tier you buy.
A20 Pro chip, thinner body
Power comes from the A20 Pro, the same chip Apple put in the iPhone 18 Pro, built on a 2nm process according to Digit. The 128GB and 256GB models get a five-core CPU with two performance cores and three efficiency cores alongside a 16-core Neural Engine, while the 512GB model steps up to a six-core CPU and a dual 16-core Neural Engine for AI workloads. Apple says the chip is rated for heavier tasks like video editing and gaming, and it runs iPadOS 27 with Apple Intelligence features including an upgraded Siri.
The tablet itself is now 5.4mm thick and weighs 255g for the Wi-Fi model or 263g with cellular, which adds Apple's C2 modem. Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread support are all on board, and the Mini keeps compatibility with both the Apple Pencil Pro and the USB-C Apple Pencil, alongside a new Smart Folio sold separately. The back camera shoots 4K at 60fps, and a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera sits in a landscape-friendly corner for video calls.
Pricing jumps, pre-orders open this week
The new iPad Mini starts at $699 in the US, £699 in the UK and AU$1099 in Australia, a notable step up from the previous model's $499 starting price. In India, the 128GB Wi-Fi model lists at Rs 82,900, the Wi-Fi plus cellular version at Rs 1,00,900, the 256GB model at Rs 94,900 and the 512GB model at Rs 1,18,900. It comes in Midnight and Starlight finishes.
Pre-orders are open globally now, with India's window opening October 28 at 10:40pm local time. Apple has set availability for November 6 across markets.
GDFiled by The Gadgets Desk
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