Apple’s new OLED iPad mini has a 60Hz refresh rate, leaving out the 120Hz ProMotion technology available on its iPad Pro models. The decision stands out on a tablet priced from Rs. 82,900 in India. Apple executives have discussed the display’s faster pixel response, yet have not explained why the company retained the lower refresh rate.
Speaking to technology creators Christopher Lawley and Katarina Mogus, Apple Vice President of Hardware Engineering Dave Pakula discussed the tablet’s display and audio design. He explained that OLED pixels change colors more than ten times faster than those on an LCD screen. This helps reduce blur when objects move across the display. However, faster pixel changes do not mean the screen can show more images every second. At 60Hz, the display refreshes 60 times per second, with each update taking around 16.7 milliseconds. A 120Hz screen refreshes twice as often, reducing the time between updates to 8.3 milliseconds. This can make scrolling smoother and improve the on-screen response while gaming or using the Apple Pencil.
The 8.5-inch OLED panel offers a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1. It supports 600 nits of full-screen brightness and peak HDR brightness of 1,200 nits. The display also supports P3 color and an optional nano-texture finish on selected storage variants.
Apple has introduced its Acoustic Display system to the 5.4mm-thick tablet. Custom drivers vibrate the screen to produce lower-frequency sounds, while concealed tweeters handle higher frequencies.
The design reduces the need for conventional speaker openings. It also helps Apple seal the enclosure, which now carries an IP67 rating. The certification covers dust protection and immersion in fresh water up to one meter for 30 minutes under laboratory conditions.
iPad mini runs on Apple's A20 Pro chip, with specifications varying by storage capacity. The 512GB variant gets a six-core CPU and dual 16-core Neural Engines. Lower storage models have a five-core CPU and a single 16-core Neural Engine.
The new display, improved audio design and water resistance bring substantial hardware changes. However, the absence of 120Hz ProMotion could influence buyers who expect a higher refresh rate at this price.