Apple has finally given the iPad Mini a major upgrade, two years after introducing the previous A17 Pro model in 2024.
The new iPad Mini 2026 gets a larger OLED display and Apple’s newest A20 Pro chip plus a thinner and lighter design.
It is also the first iPad to come with IP67-rated dust and water resistance.
iPad Mini A20 Pro Malaysia Pricing and Availability
The new iPad Mini with A20 Pro will be available for pre-order in Malaysia starting Thursday, 29 October 2026 at 1:10am. It will officially go on sale from Friday, 6 November 2026.
It comes in two colours: Midnight and Starlight, with three storage options ranging from 128GB to 512GB.
Here’s the official iPad Mini A20 Pro pricing in Malaysia:
iPad Mini A20 Pro WiFi
- 128GB – RM2,999
- 256GB – RM3,399
- 512GB – RM4,299
iPad Mini A20 Pro WiFi + 5G
- 128GB – RM3,699
- 256GB – RM4,099
- 512GB – RM4,999
For students or educators, Apple’s Education Pricing starts from RM2,779.
For comparison, the previous iPad Mini with A17 Pro was launched in Malaysia from RM2,199 for the 128GB WiFi model and RM2,899 for the 128GB WiFi + Cellular version. This means the starting price for the new iPad has increased by RM800.
For the first time, Apple is also offering nano-texture display glass on the iPad Mini. This option is available for the 256GB and 512GB configurations for an additional RM400.
The new iPad Mini continues to support the Apple Pencil Pro and the more affordable Apple Pencil USB-C.
What’s new with iPad Mini 2026?
One of the biggest upgrades is the display. Apple has replaced the previous 8.3-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD with a larger 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel.
Besides offering deeper blacks and better contrast, the new OLED display is also brighter. It supports up to 600 nits of full-screen brightness, while peak brightness for HDR highlights can reach up to 1,200 nits.
In comparison, the previous iPad Mini’s IPS display was rated at 500 nits. The new OLED panel also offers a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and can go as low as 1 nit for more comfortable viewing in dark environments.
Unfortunately, the new iPad Mini still doesn’t support Apple’s ProMotion technology. This means the display is still limited to 60Hz refresh rate instead of the smoother 120Hz found on the iPad Pro.
Despite having a slightly larger display, the new iPad Mini is actually more compact than its predecessor.
It measures 195.3mm tall, 132.6mm wide and just 5.4mm thin. Compared to the previous A17 Pro model, it is 0.1mm shorter, 2.2mm narrower and 0.9mm thinner.
The new compact tablet is lighter too. The WiFi model now weighs just 255g, which is 38g lighter than before. Meanwhile, the WiFi + 5G version weighs 263g, which is 34g lighter.
Under the hood, the new iPad Mini runs on Apple’s A20 Pro chip which is the same chip powering the latest iPhone 18 Pro series. Interestingly, there are two CPU variants depending on which storage option you choose.
The 128GB and 256GB versions get a 5-core CPU with two super cores and three efficiency cores, while the top-spec 512GB model gets a 6-core CPU with an additional efficiency core.
All variants feature a 7-core GPU, although the 512GB version gets a Dual 16-core Neural Engine instead of the standard 16-core Neural Engine.
According to Apple, the A20 Pro delivers up to 60% faster multi-threaded CPU performance and up to 2.7 times faster graphics performance compared to the previous generation. It also supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing and features Neural Accelerators in each GPU core.
In terms of connectivity, the new iPad Mini features Apple’s N1 wireless chip, which brings support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The cellular version support 5G connectivity enabled by Apple’s C2 celluar chip.
Another interesting change is the new speaker system. Instead of relying on a conventional landscape dual speaker setup, the new iPad mini features “Acoustic Display” which Apple says uses specially designed woofers paired with the display itself to deliver punchier bass and more volume. Meanwhile, the custom tweeters are hidden between the glass and aluminium enclosure to deliver clearer highs.
The new audio design also helps Apple achieve IP67 dust and water resistance, making this the first iPad to be certified for dust and water resistance.
The IP67 rating means the tablet is dust-tight and has been tested to withstand immersion in freshwater up to 1 metre deep for 30 minutes.
For photography, the new iPad Mini retains a 12MP rear camera with support for 4K video recording at up to 60fps. The 12MP Center Stage front camera is now positioned along the landscape edge, providing a more natural viewing angle for video conferencing while the tablet is in landscape mode.
The new iPad Mini also supports fast charging for the first time, with Apple claiming that it can recharge up to 50% in just 30 minutes when using a 35W USB-C power adapter or higher.
However, take note that Apple still bundles the iPad Mini with a 20W USB-C power adapter and USB-C charging cable in the box.
Similar to other iPads, the iPad Mini is still rated for up to 10 hours of web browsing or video playback on a full charge.
The tablet runs on iPadOS 27 with support for Apple Intelligence. It also retains Touch ID on the top button and USB-C connectivity.
