Apple is gearing up to unveil a major refresh of the iPad mini this week, with several firsts for the product line. The upcoming iPad mini 8 is said to introduce an OLED display, a new A20 Pro chip, updated durability features, and a higher price tag. These changes mark the most substantial redesign for the mini since 2021.
What’s New: Display, Performance, Durability
The most visible upgrade in the new model will be the switch from LCD to an OLED screen. While it won’t adopt Apple’s flagship Tandem OLED, it promises richer colors, stronger contrast, and higher brightness. What’s still up in the air is whether the screen will support a 120Hz refresh rate via ProMotion or retain the current 60Hz refresh rate.
Under the hood, Apple is expected to replace the current A17 Pro chip with a more powerful A20 Pro, coupled with 12GB of RAM—up from 8GB. This upgrade aims to support more demanding tasks, particularly with on-device AI workloads like enhanced dictation and voice features through Siri. Early performance predictions estimate around 60% gains in multi-core CPU tasks and a remarkable 166% boost for GPU performance over the A17 Pro.
Alongside processing power, durability is also getting attention. The iPad mini 8 looks set to be Apple’s first water-resistant iPad. A revised case design and updated speaker system should help prevent water from entering the body—something especially important for users who take their tablets outdoors or into humid environments.
Price, Storage, and What to Expect
Perhaps the most noticeable change will be the price. The iPad mini 8 is rumored to start at about $799—a full $200 more than the current $599 entry-level model. It’s unclear whether the base configuration will remain at 128GB, or if Apple will shift to offering 256GB as standard. That change could offset the sticker shock for users who need more storage.
These updates come after several years without major changes: the iPad mini hasn’t had a redesign since 2021, and its last chip update was in 2024. So the OLED display, upgraded chip, and water resistance would mark significant shifts both in hardware and in pricing.
What’s not yet confirmed includes whether the OLED display will feature higher refresh rates and how much storage Apple will include at launch. Expect Apple to fill in those details at a full announcement.
Why this matters: This redesign signals Apple’s push to bring premium features like OLED and water resistance across more of its product lineup—not just its flagship devices. If the price indeed rises to $799, buyers will need to consider whether those upgrades justify the premium. Watch for Apple’s confirmation on ProMotion support and storage tiers, as those will make or break the appeal of the new iPad mini 8.
