Apple’s new iPad mini has some major upgrades, but there’s one trade-off you can’t ignore
Key takeaways
- The new iPad mini starts at $1,099 in Australia. It gets an OLED screen and a water-resistant design.
- It still has a standard 60Hz refresh rate, rather than the smoother 120Hz ProMotion display found on the iPad Pro.
- Pre-orders open Thursday, 29 October 2026, with the iPad mini hitting stores on Friday, 6 November 2026.
iPad mini 2026 price and availability in Australia
The new iPad mini starts at $1,099 for Wi-Fi, or $1,349 if you want Wi-Fi and cellular.
It comes in two colours, Midnight and Starlight, and three storage options: 128GB, 256GB and 512GB.
Apple is also offering a nano-texture glass option on the two higher storage tiers that cuts down on screen glare.
Pre-orders kick off on Thursday, 29 October 2026. It'll be available in stores from Friday, 6 November 2026.
Here's a full rundown of the pricing:
| Model | Australian RRP | Nano-texture glass |
|---|---|---|
| iPad mini Wi-Fi 128GB | $1,099 | Not available |
| iPad mini Wi-Fi 256GB | $1,299 | $1,499 |
| iPad mini Wi-Fi 512GB | $1,649 | $1,849 |
| iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB | $1,349 | Not available |
| iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular 256GB | $1,549 | $1,749 |
| iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular 512GB | $1,899 | $2,099 |
The new iPad mini costs $150 more than the previous model did after Apple's price hike in June.
That's $300 more than the original 2024 launch price of $799 for the base model.
What's new on the iPad mini?
The biggest upgrade is the new 8.5-inch OLED screen, up from 8.3 inches on the previous model.
It brings deeper blacks, richer colours and peak brightness of up to 1,200 nits.
The iPad mini gets Apple's A20 Pro chip, which promises faster performance for gaming, photo editing and everyday tasks.
It's also thinner at 5.4mm and now has IP67 water and dust resistance.
Other upgrades include a 12MP front camera with Center Stage for video calls, improved speakers and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.
It supports the Apple Pencil Pro ($219) and Apple's new TechWoven Smart Folio cover ($129).
One thing that's still missing is a 120Hz refresh rate.
The screen remains at 60Hz, so scrolling and animations won't look as smooth as they do on Apple's Pro models.
Some people might not notice the difference but given how much you're paying, you would expect a 120Hz refresh rate as default now.
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