From Ars Technica · · 4m
2026 iPad mini review: Maximizing the mini
Apple's smallest tablet gets a bigger OLED screen, faster chip, and better speakers, but costs nearly as much as the larger iPad Air.
In brief
Apple's smallest tablet gets a bigger OLED screen, faster chip, and better speakers, but costs nearly as much as the larger iPad Air. The 2026 iPad mini gains an OLED screen, current processor, and IP67 rating, but at six hundred ninety-nine dollars it undercuts the iPad Air by only fifty dollars, limiting its appeal…
The iPad mini's niche appeal
The iPad mini has long been seen as a quality tablet for people wanting something small, portable, and comfortable, but its limited processing power restricted its appeal to watching media or playing games.
A bigger, brighter screen
The 2026 iPad mini trades its eight point three inch IPS screen for an eight point five inch OLED display.
OLED brightness and contrast
The new mini is brighter than its IPS predecessor, with Apple claiming full screen brightness of up to six hundred nits, compared to five hundred nits on the previous model.
Refresh rate remains at sixty hertz
The mini still has a sixty hertz refresh rate, with one hundred twenty hertz limited to the iPad Pro.A sixty hertz rate makes little difference when watching shows or movies but can affect scrolling smoothness.
Nano texture glass option
The mini borrows nano texture glass from the iPad Pro, designed to reduce glare. It costs an extra one hundred dollars and is only available on the two hundred fifty six gigabyte and five hundred…
A current generation processor
The two thousand twenty four mini debuted with a year old chip. The two thousand twenty six model jumps from the A seventeen Pro to the A twenty Pro, a two nanometer chip that debuted…
Fifty percent more memory bandwidth
The newer A twenty Pro chip has fifty percent more memory bandwidth, which significantly boosts graphics performance. It is also up to sixty percent faster than its predecessor.
GPU and neural engine upgrades
The five hundred twelve gigabyte model gets a bump from five CPU cores to six and doubles the number of sixteen core Neural Engines from one to two, promising better performance in on device AI…
Performance for everyday tasks
Tasks such as photo editing, light video editing, and juggling many open applications felt smooth.The performance boost makes the iPad mini much more powerful than the standard iPad eleven, which uses an A sixteen processor.
Apple Intelligence capabilities
The tablet supports features under the Apple Intelligence umbrella, including generative AI capabilities. Tasks like removing objects from photos or extending borders take roughly twenty seconds, similar to the iPhone eighteen Pro.
Improved speaker system
The mini has two woofers designed to deliver higher volume and stronger bass than the prior mini. A pair of custom designed tweeters between the glass and aluminum enclosure improve clarity of higher frequencies.
First iPad with IP rating
The mini pulls off powerful speakers without any visible speaker holes in its chassis. This detail helped the mini earn the first IP sixty seven rating for an iPad, meaning it is dust tight and…
Camera and connectivity changes
The front facing camera moved from a shorter side to a longer side, taking adjustment for FaceTiming.The back camera gains Adaptive True Tone flash for document scanning.
Pricing undercuts its own appeal
The iPad mini starts at six hundred ninety nine dollars for the one hundred twenty eight gigabyte version, putting it just fifty dollars below the eleven inch iPad Air at its lowest configuration.
Still a niche product
The biggest reason to pick the mini over other iPads is if you truly want the smallest device, primarily for content consumption.
Best for ultraportable content viewing
For anyone looking for an ultraportable tablet primarily for enjoying content on an excellent high end display, the mini is a markedly better device than it used to be.
The bottom line
The 2026 iPad mini gains an OLED screen, current processor, and IP67 rating, but at six hundred ninety-nine dollars it undercuts the iPad Air by only fifty dollars, limiting its appeal beyond content consumption.
