Is the New 2026 iPad Mini Worth the Upgrade?

On October 26, as part of its "Pro and Tell" announcement, Apple unveiled an updated iPad mini. It's faster, brighter, and comes ready to use Apple Intelligence. The question on everyone's mind, as with every new Apple product, is whether it's worth the upgrade. Find out below what the iPad mini has to offer for anyone considering a new iPad.

Availability & Pricing

Availability

• Pre-Order October 28
• Available November 6

Pricing

• $699 for 128 GB of storage
• $799 for 256 GB of storage
• $999 for 512 GB of storage

Notably, the first two storage tiers come equipped with a 16-core Neural Engine, while the 512 GB iPad mini uses a Dual 16-core Neural Engine.

What's New with the iPad Mini?

The biggest change to the 2026 iPad mini is that it uses the A20 Pro chip, which provides improved performance for any other demanding workload you might use your iPad mini for, like gaming or video editing. It also has a 16-core Neural Engine (Dual 16-core on the 512 GB model), that makes it perfect for AI processes.

It comes with the same 12 MP Center Stage front-facing camera found on the iPhone Duo. You also have the option to order the iPad mini with a nano-texture glass screen, just like the one on the iPad Pro. The screen itself is an OLED panel, similar to the screens being used by current iPhones, though the iPad mini is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate, while the iPhone (and the iPad Pro) has a 120Hz refresh rate, which could be an important difference if you like to game on your iPad.

Should You Upgrade?

Truthfully, while Apple claims this is the iPad mini's biggest update ever, this new iPad mini seems like a minor upgrade from the previous generation. If your current iPad mini is still doing fine, I'd recommend just sticking with what you have now. If you don't have an iPad yet, the iPad mini isn't a bad entry point. However, with its small size, instead of getting both an iPhone and iPad mini, why not pick up an iPhone Duo instead? Unfolded, the Duo screen is 7.6 inches, while the iPad mini screen is 8.5 inches. That's a difference of less than an inch, and the cost is less than purchasing an iPhone and iPad separately. If you're looking to pair an iPad with your iPhone, I'd recommend an iPad Pro or iPad Air over the mini.