Apple has unveiled a major upgrade to its iPad mini, introducing an OLED display, a thinner and lighter design, improved performance and water resistance for the first time.

The new tablet starts at $1,099 and is the first of several new Apple products expected to be announced this week.

The biggest change is the introduction of an 8.5-inch OLED display, replacing the 8.3-inch LCD screen found on the previous model.

Apple has reduced the bezels surrounding the display to accommodate the larger panel, while OLED technology promises deeper blacks, brighter whites and improved contrast.

The redesigned iPad mini is also 14 per cent thinner and 13 per cent lighter than the previous generation, making it more portable despite the slightly larger screen.

Another significant addition is an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, a first for Apple’s iPad range.

Helping achieve this is a new Acoustic Display audio system, which places the speakers beneath the screen rather than using conventional speaker openings.

Apple has also repositioned the front-facing camera to make video calls and FaceTime sessions more convenient.

Powering the new iPad mini is Apple’s A20 Pro processor, replacing the A17 Pro chip used in the previous model.

Interestingly, Apple is offering different processor configurations depending on the amount of storage selected.

The 128GB and 256GB versions feature a five-core CPU, while the more expensive 512GB model receives a six-core CPU. All configurations include seven graphics cores.

The top-end model also features a dual 16-core Neural Engine designed to improve artificial intelligence processing.

Wireless connectivity has been upgraded through Apple’s N1 networking chip, which introduces Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support. Cellular versions also feature the company’s C2 modem.

Customers can choose between a standard OLED display and a matte nano-texture option designed to minimise glare and reflections.

Storage capacities range from 128GB to 512GB, with prices climbing to $1,899 for a fully equipped model featuring maximum storage, cellular connectivity and the nano-texture display.

The new iPad mini will be offered in Midnight and Starlight colour options.

Pre-orders begin on Thursday, October 29, with the tablet scheduled to go on sale on November 6 in Australia.

The announcement kicks off a busy week for Apple, which is also preparing to introduce a refreshed iMac and 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by its new M6 processor.

The company is also expected to unveil its first touchscreen MacBook Pro later in the week.

Apple will host a launch event in Los Angeles on Wednesday, giving journalists and content creators their first opportunity to try the new devices.

Apple is also reportedly developing a refreshed entry-level iPad, an OLED iPad Air and an updated iPad Pro for release during the first half of 2027.