iPad Mini OLED Model Starts at $699, Ships Nov. 6 With First-Ever Water Resistance

Apple’s long-awaited iPad mini OLED upgrade is official, and it brings the biggest list of changes the small tablet has seen in years, along with a higher price. According to CNET’s Scott Stein, the new model starts at $699 and goes on sale Nov. 6, with orders opening Oct. 28.

What the iPad mini OLED upgrade includes

The headline feature is the screen. The new iPad mini steps up to 8.5 inches, from 8.3 inches on the previous model, and it is the first mini with an OLED panel. Inside, an A20 processor replaces the A17 chip in the model released two years ago.

Apple has also made the tablet thinner and lighter. The front-facing camera has moved to the landscape edge, as on Apple’s other iPads. That should put it closer to center for video calls when the tablet is propped on a table in a case.

First water-resistant iPad

The most notable addition may be durability. The mini is the first iPad rated IP67 for water resistance. CNET says that means it should survive a dunk in a pool, the ocean or a bathtub. Apple is also introducing a through-screen speaker system called Acoustic Display. Stein says he is curious to test it, and there are no performance details yet.

Pricing and storage options

The $699 base price includes 128GB of storage. Stepping up to 256GB costs $799, and the 512GB version is $999. Stein calls the tablet a potential “killer upgrade” on paper for anyone who has been waiting, but he also notes that it costs more than the model it replaces. The tablet comes in two new colors, midnight and starlight.

Timing and the iPhone Duo connection

Apple announced the tablet two days before an expected showcase of new Macs on Wednesday. It also follows the company’s new iPhone Duo. Stein says the Duo, when unfolded, almost feels like an iPad mini. For shoppers who want a tablet-sized screen without buying the Duo, the new mini offers an alternative.

The coverage so far is based on Apple’s announcement rather than hands-on testing. Stein says a full review will come once he has a unit, so claims about battery life, screen quality and the speaker system remain unverified. For now, the iPad mini OLED model is a clear step up in hardware, and buyers will need to decide whether the new features justify the higher price.

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