Apple has unveiled a new iPad mini with an 8.5-inch OLED display, the A20 Pro chip and a 5.4 mm thin body. It is the first iPad rated IP67 for water and dust, and the 12-megapixel front camera has moved to the long edge for landscape video calls. US prices start at $699 for the Wi-Fi model and $849 for the cellular model. Pre-orders open on 28 October and availability starts on 6 November.

What it means: Apple’s small tablet has settled into business roles that often go unnoticed: taking orders in restaurants, stock counts in warehouses, field sales, digital menus and hotel check-in. Water and dust resistance is especially useful in kitchens, bars and outdoor areas, where firms used to buy rugged cases. The price rise of about $100 over the previous model, however, makes equipping a fleet more expensive, so it is worth comparing with rugged Android tablets or with POS terminals that already include payments. For anyone building apps or websites, the new screen size is a reminder to check how menus, tables and forms look at tablet width, which is where layouts often break. Ordering and invoicing apps should also be tested on the new iPadOS release before a mass upgrade. Finally, businesses that manage many devices can enrol the new models in their device management system from day one, so passcodes, updates and restrictions apply automatically.

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