Apple unveils $699 water-resistant OLED iPad mini

Apple unveiled a redesigned iPad mini on Monday, Oct. 26. The new model has an 8.5-inch OLED screen, a water-resistant body and a faster chip, and it starts at $699, Bloomberg reported. It is the first of several product announcements Apple is making this week before its "Pro and Tell" event on Wednesday, Oct. 28.bloomberg.com

According to Bloomberg, Apple redesigned the audio system so the speakers sit beneath the display. That change makes the mini the first iPad rated IP67 for water and dust resistance. Apple calls the tablet the "biggest update ever" for the iPad mini, 9to5Mac reported. The outlet said the device runs on the A20 Pro chip, is thinner and lighter than before, and offers an optional nano-texture display.macrumors.com+1

Price lands below forecasts

The $699 price is $100 more than the current model, which costs $599 after Apple raised it by $100 in June. Apple blamed that June increase on rising prices for memory and storage chips, MacRumors reported. Still, the new price is lower than some had expected. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman had said the OLED model would be "considerably more expensive" and guessed it would cost "something closer to $799," according to MacRumors.macrumors.com+1

Until now, Apple used OLED screens only on the iPad Pro, MacRumors noted. The A20 Pro chip is the same one used in this year's iPhone 18 Pro models, 9to5Mac reported. It replaces the A17 Pro that has powered the iPad mini since October 2024.macrumors.com+1

A three-day rollout

Before Monday's launch, Gurman said in a post on X that Apple "increasingly" spends the three days before a Wednesday event making announcements. He said it "would make sense" for Apple to release the iPad mini first, then the M6 iMac and MacBook Pro on Tuesday, and a touchscreen MacBook Pro on Wednesday, MacRumors reported.macrumors.com

The Los Angeles event is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. PT on Oct. 28. Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak hinted at it on X, writing, "Can't wait to pro and tell next week," Business Standard reported.business-standard.com

MacBooks take center stage

The event's name points to new MacBook Pro models. Mashable expects Apple to show its first touchscreen OLED MacBook, which would be thinner and lighter than current models and use a hole-punch camera instead of a notch, Mashable reported. It also expects an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro and an iMac, both with the M6 chip.mashable.com

Mashable described the gathering as an all-day launch experience for the press and creators rather than a traditional keynote. Attendees are expected to get hands-on time with the new iPad mini alongside the Macs, MacRumors reported. MacRumors also reported that the new devices could reach stores as early as Nov. 6.macrumors.com+1