New iPad mini has a 4,900 mAh battery, slightly smaller than last year’s
Key points
- The new iPad mini (2026), also called the iPad mini 8, has a 4,900 mAh battery, according to an EU energy label for model A3596.
- Apple rates the battery at 18.9Wh, down from 19.3Wh on the previous model.
- Apple's website lists the same battery life estimates for both models.
- The new tablet is almost 1mm thinner and close to 40g lighter than the iPad mini (2024), per GSMArena.
- It has an OLED screen and the A20 Pro chip, and costs $699 in the US. It launches Friday, November 6.
The new iPad mini has a slightly smaller battery than the model it replaces. An EU energy label for the tablet (model A3596) lists the battery at 4,900 mAh. Apple’s spec sheet rates it at 18.9Wh, down from 19.3Wh on the iPad mini (2024). Apple does not publish battery size in mAh, so the energy label is where the figure came from.
The outlets that covered the label give slightly different numbers for the old model. GSMArena puts its battery at 5,078 mAh, while MacRumors and Gizmochina say 5,034 mAh. Either way, the drop is small, and the watt-hour ratings are the same in all reports. GSMArena ties the smaller cell to the new design: the tablet is almost 1mm thinner and close to 40g lighter than the 2024 model.
Battery life does not appear to change. MacRumors notes that Apple lists identical battery life estimates for the old and new models. It suggests the more efficient A20 Pro chip helps make up for the smaller battery. It also points to the new OLED screen, which can use less power than an LCD when showing dark content, because black pixels switch off completely.
Apple unveiled the iPad mini (2026) on Monday. It is available to pre-order now, with US pricing starting at $699, and launches on Friday, November 6.
Sources
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