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Apple's new iPad mini is the manufacturer's first tablet that's safe to use in the bath. While iPhones have had some form of water-resistance for a decade now, the new iPad mini marks the first time an iPad has had an IP rating.
The new iPad mini is rated IP67, which means it can be submerged to depths of one metre for up to 30 minutes. That fall shorts of the IP68 rating found on recent iPhones, like the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, where they're able to survive to depths of six metres, but it's certainly something.
In a press release, Apple says the IP rating makes it ideal "for working outside on a rainy day or reading by the pool".
The other key change is a larger 8.5-inch OLED display, up from the 8-inch LCD in the 2024 model. On top of a bigger screen, the OLED panel will look nicer. OLED panels work by lighting up individual pixels as needed, which results in a higher contrast ratio that will make content pop that little bit more. Since an OLED panel doesn't need a backlight, it can also go darker, which means black looks black, rather than dark grey. The display is still a 60Hz panel, rather than 120Hz.
Other specifications for the new iPad mini include an A20 chipset, a 12MP selfie camera in landscape (rather than portrait), N1 and C2 networking chips, and a 12MP rear-facing camera with true tone flash. Apple has also moved the speakers behind the new iPad mini's display, so the sides of the device will look cleaner.
The new iPad mini will be available to pre-order from 4.10am on October 29 ahead of a November 6 release date. Pricing starts at $1,099 for a 128GB WiFI-only model, or $1,349 for a model with mobile connectivity. Note that mobile-ready models only support eSIMs, rather than physical SIMs.
Customers that opt for a 256GB or 512GB model have the option of adding a nano-texture display, which is designed to reduce glare. Nano-texture models start at $1,499.
Alex Choros
