AT A GLANCE
- Apple lists an 8.5-inch OLED screen and A20 Pro for the new iPad mini.
- Its US announcement gives October 28 for pre-orders and November 6 for availability.
- CPU and Neural Engine specifications differ between storage configurations.
About the photograph
The contextual photo shows an older iPad mini 6, not the announced device. IPad Mini 6 back side, by 茅野ふたば, is used under CC BY-SA 4.0. The provider-resized photo and any display-crop adaptation remain under that license. No mirroring or retouching was applied; no endorsement is implied.
The search term iPad mini 8 appeared in our US Google Trends sample after Apple's October 26 announcement. Apple calls the new device iPad mini with A20 Pro. Its US release describes an OLED display and a redesigned compact tablet. This is a guide to the published specifications, rather than a hands-on review.
When does it arrive, and what does it cost?
Apple's US announcement lists pre-orders beginning October 28 and availability from November 6. Starting prices are $699 for Wi-Fi and $849 for Wi-Fi + Cellular. The announced storage choices are 128GB, 256GB and 512GB, with midnight and starlight finishes.
Those are US figures and the dates in that announcement. Readers elsewhere should use their regional Apple listing for local ordering times, taxes, prices and availability. A launch date in a US headline is not a universal promise of delivery on that day.
What changes with the screen?
Apple's technical specifications list an 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display. The brightness figures distinguish full-screen output from peaks: 600 nits maximum full-screen brightness and 1,200 nits peak for HDR content. The nano-texture glass option is listed for 256GB and 512GB configurations.
That distinction matters when comparing spec sheets. A peak HDR number does not describe the brightness of every app or every part of the screen continuously. Compare the conditions attached to a figure, rather than treating the largest number as the whole viewing experience.
Are all A20 Pro configurations identical?
The specification page lists a five-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine for the 128GB and 256GB models. The 512GB model has a six-core CPU and Dual 16-core Neural Engine. Each configuration lists a seven-core GPU. Choosing more storage therefore changes more than the capacity figure.
These are manufacturer specifications, not a measurement of how much faster your own apps will run. Match the precise configuration to any performance claim you read; do not assume a result for the highest-capacity model represents every version.
What should an existing owner check?
Apple lists compatibility with Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C). Before planning an upgrade, compare your exact tablet, Pencil and cover with the new model's compatibility information. Decide which improvement matters to your use: the screen, portability, storage or a particular app. Independent testing will be more useful than launch superlatives for judging battery life and sustained performance.
FOLLOW THE TRAIL
Sources & further reading
- Apple Newsroom — iPad mini announcement, October 26, 2026 (US) ↗
Manufacturer's announcement, US ordering dates, starting prices, storage and accessories.
- Apple — iPad mini technical specifications (US) ↗
Display conditions, storage-dependent CPU and Neural Engine configurations, and Pencil compatibility.
Prepared with AI assistance and checked against Apple's US announcement and specifications. Both factual sources are from the manufacturer; no hands-on testing, interviews or independent benchmark verification is claimed. The credited photograph shows an earlier model. Read our editorial policy.
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