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Pre-order launches for Apple's thinnest and lightest iPad Mini to date – where to pre-order in the UK today ahead of Christmas

The 8th generation iPad Mini is Apple's lightest and thinnest offering yet.

Woman sitting on step scrolling on new iPad Mini

Apple

Published: Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at 5:00 pm

It's been an exciting time for new Apple releases, as the iPhone Duo officially went on sale last Friday. Now the tech giant are forging ahead with the 8th generation of the iPad Mini.

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This is great news for iPad users in the UK, as figures from Stats Counter have revealed that Apple is the leading tablet brand in the UK, owning over 50% of the tablet vendor market share.

Just over two years since the last iPad Mini reveal, this new model comes with an A20 Pro chip, enabling it to pack a much bigger punch than its predecessors.

From camera power to improved audio to enhanced AI capabilities, the iPad Mini A20 Pro is a powerful upgrade from the previous model. However, this upgrade is certainly reflected in the new price tag.

The new iPad Mini is available to pre-order today; here's where you can find it in the UK.

Pre-order iPad Mini A20 Pro from £699 at John Lewis

Check out the best digital notebooks in 2026.

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What are the new features of the iPad Mini A20 Pro?

When it comes to the new iPad Mini, everyone is talking about the device's thinness and lightness. It's 5.3mm thick and weighs 254g, a stark difference compared to its predecessor's measurements of 6.35mm and 295g, respectively.

Interestingly, the iPhone Duo also measures 5.3mm when unfolded, makes the Duo and the iPad Mini equal.

The 8th generation iPad Mini boasts a Super Retina XDR display with OLED technology, allowing it to deliver pixel-level lighting controls and a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits.

When it comes to cameras, the 12MP front camera has now been moved to the landscape edge, giving it the perfect angle for FaceTime calls. Plus, the 12MP Wide back camera is equipped with Smart HDR 4 and 4K video, as well as Adaptive True Tone flash to improve photos and document scanning.

Plus, it's sure to be hardy in whatever environment you're photographing in, thanks to its IP67 rating that protects against water and dust.

Hand holding iPad Mini

iPad Mini 8th Gen with A20 Pro chip Apple

The key feature of the new iPad Mini is the A20 Pro chip, which has significantly boosted graphics and AI-intensive tasks. This device provides up to 4.5x fast AI performance than the previous models, useful for tasks from running on-device models to local LLMs. And speaking of AI, the device is equipped with Siri AI, a brand new version of Siri, designed by Apple to be more capable and conversational, with the ability to draw on personal context.

The iPad Mini has also seen audio improvements, with an innovative Acoustic Display that features specially designed woofers for higher volume and punchier bass, as well as custom tweeters for clearer highs.

The new iPad Mini supports both the Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro.

Pre-order iPad Mini A20 Pro from £699 at John Lewis

What are the new iPad Mini colours?

The iPad Mini is available in Midnight and Starlight, and can be bought as a 128GB, 256GB or 512GB model.

Pre-order iPad Mini A20 Pro from £699 at John Lewis

When is the new iPad Mini A20 Pro release date?

iPad Mini with medical notes beside Apple Pencil

iPad Mini and Apple Pencil Apple

While the new iPad Mini is available to pre-order today, it will officially go on sale on Friday 6 November.

Pre-order iPad Mini A20 Pro from £699 at John Lewis

How much does the new iPad Mini cost?

Prices will vary depending on the storage option you go for. Here's a full price breakdown:

Where to pre-order new iPad Mini in the UK today

The new iPad Mini is available at a number of UK retailers. Here's a list, which we'll be adding to as more become available:

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Speaking of new Apple products, here's where you can buy the iPhone Duo in the UK today.

Authors

Joanna Magill

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