Technology1 min read

The 2026 iPad Mini is a terrific tiny tablet — for a big price

By · Via The Verge · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The redesigned compact tablet delivers a lighter, smaller chassis alongside a 2316 x 1512 OLED panel designed for enhanced dynamic range and low-light reading. Despite reaching prices as high as $1,249 for fully loaded cellular configurations, the device still omits premium features like Face ID and 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates. Buyers interested in the glare-reducing nano-texture display coating must spend at least $900 due to storage tier requirements.

Key points

  • Upgraded durability features include newly added waterproof and dustproof protections on…: Upgraded durability features include newly added waterproof and dustproof protections on the lighter chassis.
  • Premium features like Face ID and high-refresh-rate ProMotion displays remain absent from…: Premium features like Face ID and high-refresh-rate ProMotion displays remain absent from the device.
  • Adding the $100 nano-texture matte finish requires upgrading to a 256GB model for a minim…: Adding the $100 nano-texture matte finish requires upgrading to a 256GB model for a minimum cost of $900.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The iPad Mini sometimes feels like a trap. It is, in some ways and for some people, the perfect iPad: meaningfully larger than my phone’s screen but still small and light enough to use for reading in bed or gaming on the subway. As most of the rest of the iPad line has tilted ever closer to laptop territory, the Mini might be the most iPad-y iPad left. I’ve taken a Mini everywhere with me since the very first one. But Apple only updates the Mini sporadically, and those updates sometimes feel like someone inside Apple Park picked its specs by closing their eyes and clicking randomly in an Excel sheet. The Mini is always a little underpowered, a little overpriced, and a little afield in Apple’s tablet lineup. We, the iPad Mini People, sometimes feel a little forgotten.

The 2026 iPad Mini is a terrific tiny tablet — for a big price

With better performance and a better screen, this is a Mini to be reckoned with. But it’s not perfect, and it sure isn’t cheap.

The 2026 iPad…

Technology