The 2026 iPad mini swaps in a bigger OLED screen and a faster chip, but it now costs just $50 less than the larger iPad Air.
Apple's 2026 iPad mini is the best small iPad yet, according to a review from Ars Technica. It also costs more, and that makes it a harder sell. The reviewer found it sits just $50 below the 11-inch iPad Air, which is bigger and more powerful.
The screen grows from 8.3 to 8.5 inches and switches from an IPS panel to OLED. OLED screens light each pixel on their own, which usually gives deeper blacks. Apple claims up to 600 nits of full-screen brightness, up from 500 on the last mini. Peak brightness for HDR video reaches 1,200 nits. A nit is a measure of screen brightness.
The borders around the screen are 24 percent thinner. The tablet is slightly smaller than the 2024 model, at 7.69 × 5.22 × 0.21 inches, and lighter at 0.56 pounds instead of 0.65.
Inside is Apple's A20 Pro chip, the same one that debuted in the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple's last mini used the A17 Pro from 2023. The new chip is up to 60 percent faster and has 50 percent more memory bandwidth, which helps graphics. Photo editing, light video editing and many open apps felt smooth in testing.
The speakers also improved. The mini has two woofers for volume and bass, plus two tweeters for clearer high notes. The reviewer could hear TV dialogue over a noisy heater and did not feel the need for outside speakers when playing music.
The screen runs at 60 Hz. The smoother 120 Hz option stays limited to the iPad Pro. Most video looks the same either way, and the reviewer did not find it a drawback in regular use. Anyone who wants a high-refresh screen should look at the Pro line.
For heavy jobs such as video editing and 3D rendering, the iPad Pro (M5) and iPad Air (M4) are still better equipped. The mini is much more powerful than the standard iPad 11, which uses an A16 chip.
The material does not give the mini's starting price. It does say the mini costs just $50 less than the 11-inch iPad Air. An optional nano-texture glass, which cuts glare, adds $100. It is offered only on the 256GB and 512GB models.
The mini suits people who want a small tablet for video and reading. Before buying, compare it with the iPad Air, since the price gap is small and the Air is larger and more powerful.
The new iPad mini is great for video and reading, but check the 11-inch iPad Air first because it costs only $50 more.
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