New iPad Mini Hands-on: OLED Display and Refined Design
Apple updates its smallest tablet with a thinner chassis, OLED screen, and A20 Pro chip.
1Design and Portability Improvements
The new iPad mini features a significantly thinner 5.4mm chassis, reduced from 6.3mm. Weight has also dropped to 255 grams, making the device feel less dense and more premium. These physical adjustments, combined with 24 percent thinner bezels, allow for a larger 8.5-inch screen within a nearly identical overall footprint.
2Transition to OLED Technology
Apple has integrated an OLED display into the iPad mini, marking a first for non-Pro models. This upgrade provides better colors, improved contrast, and higher brightness levels, reaching 600 nits for SDR and 1200 nits for HDR content. It represents a substantial visual improvement over the previous generation's standard LCD panel.
3The ProMotion Refresh Limitation
Despite the high-quality OLED panel, the display remains locked to a 60Hz refresh rate. The absence of ProMotion technology is a notable omission, as users expected a 120Hz experience. While pixel response times are faster, the lack of a higher refresh rate remains a point of frustration for power users.
4Nano-Texture Display Option
Users can opt for a nano-texture glass finish on 256GB and 512GB models for an additional $100. This coating effectively reduces reflections and glare, which is particularly beneficial for a portable device used in varying lighting environments. It maintains excellent clarity despite a minor trade-off in overall color vibrancy.
5Innovative Acoustic Display System
Apple introduced an Acoustic Display system that utilizes the screen itself to produce low and midrange audio frequencies. Custom tweeters are hidden within the enclosure to handle high frequencies. This design choice enables the device to maintain a thinner profile while delivering louder, punchier audio compared to traditional speaker grilles.
6Water and Dust Resistance
The new model is the first iPad to receive an official IP67 water and dust resistance rating. It can withstand immersion in up to 1 meter of freshwater for 30 minutes. This durability enhancement significantly increases the device's utility as a portable e-reader, allowing for safer use in diverse environments.
7A20 Pro Chip Performance
The device is powered by the A20 Pro chip, which offers significant headroom for future tasks. Apple utilizes two configurations: a five-core CPU for lower storage models and a six-core CPU for the 512GB version. All models share the same seven-core GPU, ensuring consistent graphics performance across the entire product lineup.
8Software and Multitasking Capabilities
The iPad mini runs the full iPadOS experience, supporting advanced features like windowing, menu bars, and extended display mode. Unlike smaller mobile devices, it offers a desktop-class browsing experience in Safari. This capability allows the compact tablet to function as a powerful productivity tool that fits where larger iPads cannot.
9Pricing and Market Positioning
The new iPad mini starts at $699, reflecting its second price increase this year. Despite the premium hardware upgrades like OLED and IP67 resistance, the base storage remains at 128GB. The device occupies a unique space, offering full iPadOS power in a compact form factor that remains highly compelling for specific users.
Original article: 9to5Mac — New iPad Mini Hands-on: OLED Display and Refined Design