Apple announced an iPad mini with an 8.5-inch OLED screen Monday, with US preorders opening Wednesday, October 28 and deliveries and store availability starting Friday, November 6. The Wi-Fi model starts at $699; Wi-Fi + Cellular starts at $849.
The new tablet has an A20 Pro chip and comes in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB capacities. Midnight and starlight are the two finishes. Apple also moved the 12-megapixel Center Stage front camera to the landscape edge.
Storage capacity changes more than the space for apps and files. MacRumors reports that the 128GB and 256GB versions have a five-core CPU and one 16-core Neural Engine. The 512GB configuration has a six-core CPU and dual 16-core Neural Engine. The cellular model’s $849 starting price is $150 above the $699 Wi-Fi model. That difference buys cellular connectivity; a data plan costs extra.
Apple lists its new Smart Folio at $79 and Apple Pencil Pro at $129, both sold separately. Adding both to the entry Wi-Fi model brings the listed total to $907 before tax, a $208 increase over the tablet alone.
The new mini carries an IP67 water and dust resistance rating. Apple says that resistance can decrease with wear, warns against charging it while wet and says liquid damage is not covered by the warranty.
