Apple's updated iPad mini adds an OLED display and major upgrades, at a higher price

Summary

Apple has released a new iPad mini with significant upgrades, including an OLED display, a technology previously found only in the iPad Pro. Engadget's reviewers say the improvements do not come cheap, and a separate Engadget comparison describes the new model as a major step up from its predecessor, with hardware changes that go well beyond the display. Fast Company reports that the new Mini costs $100 more than its predecessor and starts at $699 for the Wi-Fi model with 128 GB of storage. That is a 40% increase in a little over four months, since the previous Mini itself rose $100 in June amid an AI-driven RAM shortage. Fast Company says the device remains a small iPad and sits in a tier of its own, above the iPad Air models the previous Mini resembled in some respects.

Timeline

1. Engadget

   3 Nov 2026, 14:00 UTCSource ↗

   Engadget's review of the iPad mini (A20 Pro) says Apple made significant improvements to the tablet this year, but that they don't come cheap.

2. Engadget

   4 Nov 2026, 01:00 UTCSource ↗

   Engadget's comparison of the iPad mini OLED and the iPad mini says the newest model is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, with hardware updates that extend far beyond the OLED display.

3. Fast Company

   4 Nov 2026, 04:11 UTCSource ↗

   Fast Company's review says the new iPad Mini replaces the LCD screen of past versions with OLED and costs $100 more than its predecessor, starting at $699 for the Wi-Fi model with 128 GB of storage.