iPad Mini Pre-Orders Open Today: OLED, A20 Pro From 699 USD
Apple's OLED iPad mini goes up for pre-order today, with the A20 Pro chip, IP67 rating and a 699 USD starting price. What Canadian buyers need to know.
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Pre-orders open today, launch is November 6
Apple's new iPad mini, announced on Monday, opens for pre-order today, October 28, with the first deliveries and in-store availability on November 6. This is the first iPad mini with an OLED display, and it represents the biggest change to Apple's smallest tablet since the current design debuted. If you have been waiting on a compact iPad, this is the week the decision gets real, because pre-order windows on new iPads are usually the difference between having one on launch day and waiting until December.
What is actually new
The headline is the 8.5-inch OLED panel, which replaces the LCD on the outgoing model and brings the deeper blacks and better contrast that OLED is known for. Power comes from an A20 Pro chip, a significant step up for a device this size. Apple also added IP67 water and dust resistance, a first for iPad mini, and made the chassis thinner and lighter. Around the edges there are smaller but useful changes: an adaptive True Tone flash on the rear camera, and a landscape orientation front camera, which matters far more than it sounds for video calls and Face ID adjacency.
The price went up, and there is a fast-charge catch
The new iPad mini starts at 699 USD, which per reporting is the second price increase for the model this year. Canadian pricing was not confirmed by Apple at the time of publication, so check apple.com/ca before ordering, and do not convert the US number and assume that is the price. There is also a practical catch: faster charging requires a 35W power adapter, which is sold separately. If you already own a 30W or 35W USB-C charger, you are fine. If not, budget for one.
Which model to order
Storage and connectivity choices matter more on a device that lasts this long. If you plan to keep it five years, buy one tier higher on storage than feels necessary today, because iPadOS updates and photo libraries only grow. Cellular is worth it only if you will genuinely use it away from Wi-Fi, since tethering from your phone covers most cases. As for accessories, the new Smart Folio with TechWoven material is 79 USD, and it is the sensible protection choice if you carry the tablet daily.
Is it worth upgrading from an older mini
If you own an iPad mini 6 or earlier, the jump is substantial: OLED, a much faster chip, water resistance, and the landscape camera all in one release. If you own the previous generation mini, the honest answer is that the display and chip are the reasons to move, and everything else is refinement. For riders and travellers who carry a small tablet in a tank bag or pannier, the IP67 rating alone changes how much you have to worry about weather on a trip.
What this means for the rest of Apple's week
The iPad mini pre-order lands two days before Apple's Pro and Tell event on October 28, which is expected to focus on Mac hardware including an OLED MacBook Pro. Apple has clearly split its fall releases into separate announcements, so if you are in the market for a Mac, wait for today's event before ordering anything. If your interest is a small tablet, this is your moment, and the pre-order window is the cheapest way in before holiday pricing games begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
One more buying note for Canadian shoppers: Apple tends to keep US and Canadian pre-order timing synchronized, but stock allocation for the smaller market is thinner, and the colour you want can slip to a later delivery date within hours of pre-orders opening. If a specific colour or storage tier matters to you, ordering early in the day is the difference between a November 6 delivery and a December one. And if you are buying for a rider who carries a tablet on trips, the IP67 rating is the feature to mention, because it turns a device that had to be bagged into one that can live in a tank bag through a rainy afternoon.
When can I pre-order the new iPad mini?
Pre-orders open October 28, 2026, with availability beginning November 6. Orders can be placed through apple.com and major retailers.
How much does the new iPad mini cost?
It starts at 699 USD, which is an increase over the previous model. Canadian pricing should be confirmed on apple.com/ca before ordering.
Does the new iPad mini have an OLED display?
Yes. It is the first iPad mini with an OLED display, sized at 8.5 inches, alongside the A20 Pro chip and IP67 water and dust resistance.
Do I need a separate charger for fast charging?
Yes. Fast charging requires a 35W power adapter, which is sold separately.