iPad mini 8 Battery Is Smaller Than iPad mini 7’s, EU Label Shows
The iPad mini 8 battery is slightly smaller than the one in the model it replaces. An EU energy label Apple published for the new tablet lists a 4,900 mAh cell, 134 mAh less than the 5,034 mAh battery in the iPad mini 7, as MacRumors first reported on October 31.
The drop is small. In watt-hours, the unit Apple uses on its own spec pages, the new iPad mini is rated at 18.9 Wh against 19.3 Wh for the previous generation. That is a difference of 0.4 Wh, or roughly 2%.
iPad mini 8 Battery vs iPad mini 7: The Numbers
EU rules require tablet makers to publish energy labels for devices sold in the region, and those labels often include details that Apple leaves off its product pages, such as battery capacity in mAh. Here is how the two generations compare:
- iPad mini 8: 4,900 mAh, 18.9 Wh, 5.4 mm thick
- iPad mini 7: 5,034 mAh, 19.3 Wh, 6.3 mm thick
The smaller cell goes hand in hand with a much thinner body. The new model is 0.9 mm slimmer than its predecessor and weighs 255 grams in its Wi-Fi version, according to Apple’s iPad mini tech specs.
Will Battery Life Get Worse?
Probably not in a way most people will notice. Apple quotes the same “up to 10 hours” of web browsing on Wi-Fi or video playback for both generations, which suggests the efficiency gains of the newer hardware make up for the lost capacity.
Two changes likely help here. The A20 Pro chip replaces the A17 Pro used in the iPad mini 7, and the new 8.5-inch OLED screen can draw less power than the old LCD when showing dark content, because black pixels are switched off entirely. Real-world battery tests, which will follow once the tablet reaches buyers, will show whether Apple’s estimate holds up under heavier use such as gaming.
A Bigger Upgrade Everywhere Else
Apart from the battery, the iPad mini 8 is one of the largest updates the line has had. Apple calls it the biggest update ever for iPad mini, citing the OLED display, IP67 water and dust resistance, Wi-Fi 7 and up to 60% faster multithreaded CPU performance from the A20 Pro.
We covered the full feature list when Apple unveiled the new iPad mini with an OLED display and A20 Pro earlier this week.
iPad mini 8 Price and Release Date
The higher spec comes with a higher price. The Wi-Fi model starts at $699 in the US and the Wi-Fi + Cellular version at $849. The iPad mini 7 launched at $499 in October 2024, so the entry price has gone up by $200. Pre-orders are open now, and the tablet reaches customers and Apple Stores on Friday, November 6.
If you are keeping an older iPhone instead of upgrading anything this fall, make sure it has the iOS 27.2 security update that patched more than 160 flaws this week.
For buyers, the takeaway is simple: a 2% smaller battery is unlikely to change daily use, but the $200 price jump is a much bigger shift for a tablet that used to be Apple’s most affordable compact option. For more on where Apple is heading under its new leadership, read our coverage of the John Ternus interview on the company’s product priorities.
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