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Apple’s new iPad mini adds OLED and faster chip, starting at £699
Apple’s eighth-generation iPad mini adds an OLED screen, faster A20 Pro chip, improved speakers and IP67 water resistance, while becoming thinner and lighter. The upgrades reinforce its position as the best compact tablet, but its £699 starting price makes it a costly choice.
The 8.5-inch display is bright and vivid, though its 60Hz refresh rate lacks the smoothness of Apple’s ProMotion screens. Battery life is around nine to 10 hours for lighter use, falling to six to eight hours for games; the tablet also has Touch ID rather than Face ID. It costs £200 more than its predecessor, compared with £429 for the standard iPad and £749 for the 11-inch iPad Air.
In short
- The iPad mini gains an OLED screen and water resistance.
- It starts at £699, £200 more than the previous model.
- Review finds it the best small tablet, but expensive.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The £699 price may be justified for people who want a genuinely compact tablet with a vivid OLED screen, faster performance, better speakers and water resistance. For frequent travellers, readers or gamers, those upgrades and the lighter design could make it a more capable device that is easier to carry and use than larger iPads.
The case against
At £699, the mini costs £200 more than its predecessor and approaches the price of a larger iPad Air, so buyers may get better value elsewhere. Its 60Hz screen, Touch ID and limited battery life also leave meaningful compromises, making the premium harder to justify for people who do not specifically need a compact tablet.
Explained simply
The iPad mini is Apple’s smallest tablet, designed for people who want a device that is easier to carry than a laptop or full-sized tablet. It runs the same iPadOS software as Apple’s other tablets and can be used for reading, browsing, video calls, games and creative work.
Apple also sells the standard iPad and the larger iPad Air, with prices and features aimed at different budgets and uses. The mini’s compact size sets it apart, while its price matters to buyers weighing portability against screen space and the cost of other iPads.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Apple iPad mini A20 Pro review: the best small tablet but with a big price”.