--- title: "Before you pre-order the £699 iPad mini: what it doesn’t have" description: "No ProMotion, no charger and only the 512GB model gets the full A20 Pro chip. What Apple's own specs say before iPad mini pre-orders open on 28 October." url: https://mactoreality.com/ipad-mini-a20-pro-what-it-doesnt-have-before-you-pre-order published: 2026-10-27T07:00:00Z updated: 2026-10-27T07:00:00Z author: "Martin" category: Guides publisher: Mac to Reality apple_heat_impact: 0 --- # Before you pre-order the £699 iPad mini: what it doesn’t have *No ProMotion, no charger and only the 512GB model gets the full A20 Pro chip. What Apple's own specs say before iPad mini pre-orders open on 28 October.* Apple’s new iPad mini goes up for pre-order on Wednesday 28 October from £699, $699 or €749 in Germany, with deliveries from Friday 6 November. The 8.5-inch OLED display, A20 Pro chip and IP67 rating are big upgrades, but Apple’s own specifications show several things the tablet doesn’t have, and some depend on which storage size you pick. This is what to know before you order. Every point below comes from Apple’s own spec sheet, comparison page or press release. ### Key facts - Pre-orders: 28 October (17:10 UK time); in stores 6 November - Price: from £699 Wi-Fi, £849 Wi-Fi + Cellular (incl. 20 per cent VAT); $699 in the US (excl. sales tax) - Only the 512GB model has the 6-core CPU and Dual Neural Engine ## No ProMotion Apple’s iPad mini specifications list an OLED panel at 326 ppi with True Tone and P3 wide colour, but no ProMotion. On Apple’s iPad comparison page, ProMotion is listed only for the iPad Pro models. If you’re coming from a 120Hz iPhone or iPad Pro, scrolling will look less fluid. ## The full A20 Pro only comes with 512GB The 128GB and 256GB models have a 5-core CPU (2 super cores, 3 efficiency cores) and one 16-core Neural Engine. Only the 512GB model gets the 6-core CPU and the Dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple’s ‘up to 60 per cent faster’ CPU claim is based on the 6-core version, so the £699 model won’t hit that figure. ## No nano-texture glass on 128GB The matte nano-texture display option is offered only on the 256GB and 512GB models. ## No Magic Keyboard The iPad mini has no Smart Connector, unlike the iPad Air and iPad Pro, and Apple’s comparison page lists only Bluetooth keyboard support. Apple’s own new accessory is the £79 TechWoven Smart Folio, which has no keyboard. ## No Face ID Authentication is still Touch ID in the top button. ## No charger in the box You get the iPad and a 1-metre USB-C cable. Fast charging (up to 50 per cent in around 30 minutes) needs a USB-C power adapter of 35W or more, sold separately. ## No Thunderbolt The USB-C port is USB 3 at up to 10Gb/s, and it drives one external display at up to 4K at 60Hz. ## One rear camera, no LiDAR The back has a single 12MP Wide camera with Adaptive True Tone flash. There’s no Ultra Wide camera and no LiDAR Scanner. ## No physical SIM or mmWave 5G Cellular models use eSIM only and support sub-6GHz 5G through Apple’s C2 modem. ## Lower brightness than iPad Pro SDR brightness tops out at 600 nits, with 1,200 nits peak for HDR content only. ## No Siri AI on iPad in the EU (for now) Apple says Siri AI arrives in beta with iPadOS 27.2, but it isn’t available on iPad in the EU at launch. ## No support for older Apple Pencils Only Apple Pencil Pro (£129) and Apple Pencil (USB-C) (£79) work. The first- and second-generation Apple Pencil don’t, so owners of the previous iPad mini (6th generation) with a second-generation Pencil will need a new one. ## Why it matters The iPad mini is often bought as a reading, note-taking or travel tablet, and for that the trade-offs are minor. But the biggest catch is the chip: the headline performance figures belong to the 512GB model, so anyone who wants the full A20 Pro has to pay for the top storage tier. Read our full iPad mini launch story for prices in more regions. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does the new iPad mini have ProMotion? No. Apple's specifications don't list ProMotion for the iPad mini (A20 Pro). On Apple's comparison page, ProMotion appears only on iPad Pro. ### Do all iPad mini models have the same chip? All use the A20 Pro, but the 128GB and 256GB models have a 5-core CPU and one 16-core Neural Engine. Only the 512GB model has the 6-core CPU and the Dual 16-core Neural Engine. ### Does the iPad mini come with a charger? No. The box contains the iPad and a 1-metre USB-C cable. Fast charging needs a 35W or higher USB-C adapter, sold separately. ### Can I use a Magic Keyboard with the iPad mini? No. The iPad mini has no Smart Connector, so it works with Bluetooth keyboards only. ### Which Apple Pencil works with the new iPad mini? Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C). The first- and second-generation Apple Pencil are not supported. ### Is nano-texture glass available on every model? No. Apple offers the nano-texture display option only on the 256GB and 512GB models.