Apple's new OLED iPad mini brings a significant display upgrade, but it comes with one notable omission: the tablet does not support a 120Hz refresh rate. The device features an 8.5-inch OLED screen capped at 60Hz, keeping Apple's ProMotion technology exclusive to the iPad Pro range. Dave Pakula, Apple's vice-president of hardware engineering, has now explained the technology behind the new display and its unusual Acoustic Display speaker system. However, he did not offer a specific reason for Apple's decision to leave out a higher refresh rate. Why Apple's New OLED iPad Mini Does not Support 120Hz Speaking to Christopher Lawley, Pakula highlighted the faster pixel response time of OLED technology compared with traditional LCD panels. According to him, OLED pixels change more than 10 times faster than LCD pixels, helping reduce smearing around moving objects. Nonetheless, pixel response time and refresh rate have different meanings when it comes to display performance. Although OLED increases contrast, brightness, and response times, the iPad mini still manages to refresh the display only 60 times every second. This translates into about 16.7 milliseconds per refresh cycle at 60 Hz compared to 8.3 milliseconds per refresh cycle at 120 Hz. This implies that useRs. will not be able to enjoy the level of responsiveness provided by ProMotion display. The iPad mini has a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, 600 nits of brightness on the full screen, and maximum brightness of 1,200 nits for HDR. Other features include P3 color, minimum brightness of 1 nit, and nano-texture glass option on 256GB and 512GB models. How Acoustic Display Turns The Screen into a Speaker Pakula also explained how Apple has incorporated its Acoustic Display technology into the 5.4mm-thick tablet. This system works through proprietary driveRs. that cause vibrations in the display screen panel for the production of mid and low-range frequencies. Specialized hidden tweets generate high-frequency sounds. These parts are mounted at opposite ends of the phone and have a hidden path from the glass to the aluminum casing. This design ensures the absence of traditional speaker holes, which enables Apple to waterproof their product and give it the IP67 rating. According to Apple, this design provides increased loudness and bass range. iPad Mini OLED Price in India and Availability The new iPad mini starts at Rs. 82,900 in India, while the US starting price is $699. Pre-ordeRs. became available from October 28, 2026, with delivery and availability in stores planned for November 6. Additionally, the tablet comes equipped with Apple Pencil Pro and iPadOS 27 multi-tasking capabilities. However, the lack of 120Hz ProMotion, despite the OLED upgrade, is a significant drawback for those looking at Apple's high-end tablet.
New iPad Mini Gets OLED Upgrade, Misses Apple's ProMotion Technology
