Apple's iPad Mini 8 arrives

Apple has released the iPad Mini 8, marking a substantial shift in the design and performance of its smallest tablet. The device is now thinner, lighter, and equipped with a new OLED display that matches the quality found in the higher-end iPad Pro line. It also carries the highest price in the product's history, reflecting recent increases in costs for Apple hardware.

The physical changes are immediate. The new model weighs 0.56 pounds and measures 0.21 inches thick. These dimensions make it slimmer than the previous generation and comparable in thinness to the iPad Pro. Apple moved the speakers directly beneath the display to eliminate side grilles. This design choice allowed the company to make the iPad Mini the first in the lineup to achieve an IP67 rating for water resistance. The tablet can withstand rain, splashes, and brief submersion, though the power button may need drying to activate Touch ID after getting wet.

The display now uses Super Retina XDR technology. This OLED screen offers richer colors and deeper blacks than the LCD panel in the iPad Mini 7. The screen size has increased slightly from 8.3 inches to 8.5 inches due to slimmer bezels. The front camera has been rotated to a horizontal orientation, which improves framing for video calls in landscape mode. The rear camera remains a 12-megapixel unit, capable of taking standard photos.

Performance metrics show the device is among the fastest Apple has made. It utilizes the A20 Pro chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 18 Pro. Benchmark tests on Geekbench 7 indicate the iPad Mini 8 scores nearly twice as high as its predecessor in general performance. It outperforms the iPad Air M4 and iPad Pro M5 on single-core tasks. Battery life has improved significantly, with the device lasting 14 hours and 56 minutes during continuous 4K video playback. This result exceeds the battery life of the iPad Mini 7, the iPad 11th generation, and the iPad Air M4.

The release comes with some trade-offs. The new model does not include ProMotion, a feature that allows for a 120Hz refresh rate on other modern iPads. The 60Hz screen may feel less fluid to users accustomed to higher refresh rates. Apple has also reduced the color options for this model. Only Midnight black and Starlight white are available, replacing the blue and purple finishes from the previous generation. The starting price is $100 higher than the launch price of the last model.

Multitasking capabilities have been enhanced with the arrival of multi-window modes on the smaller form factor. Users can run multiple apps in floating windows simultaneously. However, the 8.5-inch screen can feel cramped when three or more applications are open at once. The device is suitable for light work tasks, though larger tablets remain better for extensive productivity use. The combination of the new display, improved durability, and strong battery life positions the iPad Mini 8 as a capable option for users who prioritize portability.