The new iPad mini price starts at $699, which is $200 more than the last iPad mini cost when it launched in 2024. Apple gave it a bigger 8.5-inch OLED screen, a faster A20 Pro chip and water resistance. Preorders are open now, and it reaches stores on Friday, Nov. 6.
The short version
Apple’s new iPad mini has a bigger OLED screen, a faster chip and water resistance, but it starts at $699, which is $200 more than the last model. For most people, the 128GB Wi-Fi model is the one to buy.
- The new iPad mini starts at $699 for 128GB with Wi-Fi, and goes up to $1,249 for 512GB with cellular and nano-texture glass.
- It arrives in stores on Friday, Nov. 6, and preorders opened on Oct. 28.
- The screen grows to 8.5 inches and switches to OLED, and the tablet is rated IP67 for water and dust.
- On Apple’s store it now costs $250 more than the basic iPad and $50 less than the iPad Air.
- The downside: Apple has not listed battery life or weight yet, so wait for reviews if those matter to you.
What changes for you: the iPad mini is no longer the cheap way into a small iPad. It now sits $250 above the basic iPad and only $50 below the iPad Air on Apple’s own store, so the question is whether the small size is worth paying close to Air money.
New iPad mini price for every version
Here is what Apple’s US store listed on Oct. 31, 2026. Every model comes in midnight or starlight, and the color does not change the price.
| Storage | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi + Cellular | Nano-texture glass |
|---|---|---|---|
| 128GB | $699 | $849 | Not offered |
| 256GB | $799 | $949 | $899 Wi-Fi, $1,049 cellular |
| 512GB | $999 | $1,149 | $1,099 Wi-Fi, $1,249 cellular |
A few things jump out once you do the math:
- Each step up in storage costs more than the last: going from 128GB to 256GB adds $100, and going from 256GB to 512GB adds $200.
- Cellular adds $150 at every storage size, plus whatever your carrier charges each month.
- The nano-texture glass, which cuts glare, adds $100 and is only sold on the 256GB and 512GB models.
- The cheapest version with nano-texture glass is $899, which is $200 more than the starting price.
What you get for the extra $200
Apple calls this the biggest iPad mini update ever. Here is what is actually new, in plain terms:
- A bigger, better screen. The display grows to 8.5 inches and switches to OLED, the type of screen that shows deeper blacks. Apple says the borders are 24% thinner, so the tablet is about the same size in your hand.
- A faster chip. The A20 Pro is built on a 2-nanometer process. Apple says its processor is up to 60% faster when an app uses all of its cores, and graphics are up to 2.7 times faster than on the last model.
- Water and dust resistance. It is rated IP67, which Apple tested at up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Liquid damage is still not covered by the warranty.
- Thinner. It is 5.4 mm thick. Apple did not list a weight in its announcement.
- Better connections. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and the cellular models use Apple’s new modem, which Apple says gives up to 50% faster data.
It works with the Apple Pencil Pro ($129) and the Apple Pencil with USB-C ($79). Apple’s new Smart Folio cover is $79.
iPad mini vs iPad vs iPad Air: which is the better deal?
The new price puts the mini in an awkward middle spot. These are the starting Wi-Fi prices with 128GB on Apple’s US store, checked Oct. 31, 2026:
| Model | Starts at | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| iPad (A16) | $449 | Kids, video, reading and school work on a budget |
| iPad mini (A20 Pro) | $699 | One-hand reading, travel, note-taking and gaming in a small size |
| iPad Air | $749 | A bigger screen for work, drawing and split-screen apps |
If you mostly watch shows, browse and read the news on a couch, the $449 iPad does the job and leaves $250 in your pocket. If you want the most screen for your money, the iPad Air is only $50 more than the mini. The mini makes sense when the small size is the whole point: you read in bed, you take notes standing up, you travel light, or you want a tablet a child can hold without dropping it.
Which new iPad mini should you buy?
For most people, the 128GB Wi-Fi model at $699 is the one to get. 128GB is enough for apps, books and downloaded shows if you keep photos in the cloud. Use your phone’s hotspot when you are out instead of paying for cellular.
Step up to 256GB ($799) if you download a lot of movies for flights, play big games or record video on it. That $100 is cheaper than running out of space in two years.
Get nano-texture glass ($899) only if you use it outside or near bright windows a lot. Glare is the trade-off of a glossy screen, but most people will not miss it indoors.
Skip cellular unless you need the iPad online in places with no Wi-Fi and no phone nearby, such as a work vehicle. It adds $150 up front and a monthly plan on top.
Spread over five years, the $699 model works out to about $140 a year. A full kit with the Apple Pencil Pro and Smart Folio comes to $907 before tax.
The downside: you pay $200 more than last time for a tablet that is still smaller than the cheaper iPad. Apple’s announcement also does not list battery life or weight, so wait for reviews if either matters to you.
Skip if: you mainly stream video and browse. The $449 iPad has a bigger screen for less money.
Should you preorder or wait?
Apple opened preorders on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and the tablet arrives in stores on Friday, Nov. 6. Black Friday is Nov. 27. If it is a holiday gift and you have settled on the mini, ordering early means you are not chasing stock in December. If you are still deciding, early reviews will tell you how the battery holds up before you spend $699.
Thinking about a Mac too? Here is what changes with Apple’s touchscreen MacBook Pro. If the iPad is for a child, read how to set up kids’ devices safely before you hand it over. And once it arrives, check which Apple updates you need.
Prices and specs come from Apple’s iPad mini announcement and Apple’s US online store, checked Oct. 31, 2026. TechCity has not tested the new iPad mini yet.
