OLED iPad Mini is The Most Apple Product They've Ever Appled

Summary

The reviewer describes the eighth-generation iPad mini as a long-awaited redesign that preserves the tablet’s main appeal—its compact size and portability—while adding a modern display, a faster chip, and water resistance. He likes the device overall but criticizes its pricing tiers and 60 Hz screen, which he personally finds distracting.

Main Features and Review Findings

Design and Display

The iPad mini is thinner and lighter, with an 8.5-inch OLED display. The reviewed model has a nano-texture finish that reduces reflections and fingerprints. The reviewer finds it especially well suited to reading and watching videos on the go.

Despite the OLED panel and higher price, the screen remains 60 Hz. The reviewer considers this a significant drawback and says it is a dealbreaker for him. He suggests Apple may be withholding 120 Hz to preserve distinctions between product tiers.

Performance

The iPad mini uses an A20 Pro chip and has ample performance headroom. In longer benchmark tests, it stayed more consistent and throttled less than an iPhone with a similar chip. The reviewer expects it to remain capable for years.

Battery Life and Portability

Battery life is described as essentially unchanged. The tablet is exceptionally light and easy to carry, and the reviewer praises it as a one-handed reading device and a useful companion to a phone.

Water Resistance and Speakers

The mini is rated IP67, which the reviewer says is a first for the iPad lineup. Its speakers are hidden behind the display rather than using conventional speaker holes. Sound remains audible when he covers the narrow edge slots, though the tablet can vibrate in the hand at high volume.

Other Hardware

The front Center Stage camera has moved to the landscape edge. The rear camera is a 12-megapixel unit, with a camera bump adjusted for the thinner body. The tablet is available in Midnight and Starlight.

Price and Configuration

The base model starts at $700 with 128 GB of storage. According to the review, lower storage configurations use a reduced version of the chip; the full chip is available with 512 GB, bringing the price to $1,000.

Nano-texture is unavailable on the 128 GB model, making the least expensive nano-texture option $900. The reviewer criticizes these tier restrictions as an example of Apple’s “price ladder” strategy.

Products and Accessories Discussed

The reviewer says an iPad mini Pro with a 120 Hz display and Face ID would be appealing.

The featured dbrand accessories are:

• Folio Grip: A grip case with a detachable magnetic folio cover that can also act as a kickstand, plus a place to hold and charge an Apple Pencil.
• iPad Prism: A screen protector applied using a tray-and-pull-tab process. Each box includes two protectors.

Guide or Tutorial

The video is primarily a product review, not a tutorial. It briefly demonstrates applying the dbrand Prism screen protector: place the tray, pull the tab, swipe along the dotted line, and smooth out bubbles.

Main Speaker and Source

• Marques Brownlee (MKBHD): Main reviewer and presenter.
• dbrand: Sponsor; its Folio Grip and Prism accessories are featured.