Apple's new mini iPad costs just $50 less than the Air
The 2026 model swaps to an 8.5-inch OLED screen and shrinks the frame, but it remains priced nearly at parity with the larger iPad Air.
By Fernando Rojas ·
Apple’s 2026 iPad mini is priced at $50 less than the 11-inch iPad Air, a narrow gap that complicates the case for buying the smaller device. The new model targets users who prefer a compact form factor over raw power, yet its cost sits dangerously close to that of a significantly larger and more capable tablet.
The most visible change is the display. The previous model featured an 8.3-inch IPS screen, while the 2026 version uses an 8.5-inch OLED panel. This 0.2-inch increase allows for larger multi-window layouts and improved content viewing on a device this size. The new screen technology also matches the quality found in other premium tablets.
Apple achieved a larger screen within a physically smaller chassis. The 2026 mini measures 7.69 by 5.22 by 0.21 inches and weighs 0.56 pounds. In comparison, the 2024 model measured 7.69 by 5.3 by 0.25 inches and weighed 0.65 pounds. The company reduced the bezels by 24 percent to accommodate the bigger display in a tighter frame.
The device also includes a current-generation chip and upgraded speakers. These internal improvements aim to make the mini more competitive than previous iterations, which were often limited to media consumption or gaming due to slower processors.
The primary competitor for this device is the 11-inch iPad Air. Because the mini is only $50 cheaper, buyers must weigh the benefit of portability against the additional screen real estate and processing power available in the Air. The 2026 mini is the lightest and smallest iPad in the current lineup, measuring just 0.21 inches thick.
