Apple iPad mini (A20 Pro) review

The new iPad mini is the best small tablet for students, and the hardest to justify on value alone. Apple's spec sheet lists an 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display at 2316 by 1512 and 326 ppi, an A20 Pro chip, an IP67 rating for water and dust, and a weight of 0.56 pound for the Wi-Fi model. It supports Apple Pencil Pro with hover, so it works well as a digital notebook you can hold in one hand, and Apple rates the battery for up to 10 hours of web browsing or video. The base model has 128GB of storage, and a nano-texture glass option is offered on 256GB and 512GB models. The limits are size and price: at $649 with education pricing it costs more than the 11-inch base iPad, and the small screen makes split-screen work and full-page PDFs cramped. Apple's buy page offers a $79 Smart Folio but no keyboard.

Who it is for

Students who read and annotate on the go and want a tablet that fits in a jacket pocket or small bag.

Price

From $649 with Apple education pricing ($699 regular) when checked.

iPad mini From $649
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• 8.5-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display at 2316 by 1512 and 326 ppi
• A20 Pro chip with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI support
• Supports Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil hover
• IP67 splash, water and dust resistance
• Weighs 0.56 pound with up to 10 hours of web browsing or video

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The lightest tablet here at 0.56 pound
• Strength: OLED screen with a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and an optional nano-texture glass
• Strength: IP67 rating, the only water-resistant iPad on this list
• Weakness: 8.5-inch screen is small for side-by-side apps or full textbook pages
• Weakness: Costs $220 more than the base iPad at education prices
• Weakness: Apple's buy page offers a Smart Folio but no keyboard

Key facts

• Price: From $649 education, $699 regular
• Chip: A20 Pro
• Display: 8.5-inch OLED, 2316 by 1512
• Battery: Up to 10 hours web or video
• Weight: 0.56 pound (Wi-Fi)
• Water resistance: IP67

Where it ranks

Apple iPad mini (A20 Pro) is No. 4 in our Best Tablets for Students verdict.