The battery is smaller than the previous model, the published parameters are unchanged, but an independent test showed an increase in web browsing time of nearly 4 hours.

Apple still records that the iPad mini 8's battery lasts up to 10 hours when browsing the web over Wi-Fi, a number identical to the iPad mini 7. But in a recently published independent test, the device lasted 14 hours and 24 minutes.

The test allows the device to continuously browse the web via Wi-Fi, with the screen brightness fixed at 150 nit. Under the same conditions, the iPad mini 7 only reached 10 hours and 36 minutes. iPad mini 8 therefore lasts about 36% longer, equivalent to nearly 4 hours.

This result is strange in that the iPad mini 8's battery is actually smaller. According to the energy label Apple announced for the European market, the battery capacity is only 4,900mAh, down about 2.7% compared to 5,034mAh of the previous model.

The cause has not been confirmed. One opinion is that the new A20 Pro chip, which is also found on the iPhone 18 Pro, is more energy efficient than the previous generation. The OLED display may also contribute, as black pixels are turned off completely. However, most websites have white backgrounds, so it's unclear how much OLED helps in this test.

The number 14 hours is not the final result. The testing unit usually runs the test three times and takes the average, but this time it only ran once and said it would update if the data changed. The tester is also the highest version, with 512 GB capacity, 5G, Nano-texture anti-glare screen, priced at 1,249 USD (about 32 million VND). In addition, the test only measures web browsing, not gaming or video recording.

In addition to the battery, the iPad mini 8 is the biggest upgrade ever for this model. The device switches to an 8.5-inch OLED screen instead of an 8.3-inch LCD screen, has a 5.4 mm thin body, has IP67 water and dust resistance standards for the first time, and uses the A20 Pro chip. In measurements, the device's performance is close to the iPad Air M4 chip. The minus point is that the device still does not have Face ID and only has a 60Hz refresh rate, without a smoother 120Hz mode like the iPad Pro.

In Vietnam, Apple Store has listed iPad mini 8 from 19,499,000 VND for the 128 GB Wi-Fi version and 23,699,000 VND for the Wi-Fi version with 5G of the same capacity. The 256 GB version is priced at 22,299,000 VND (Wi-Fi) and 26,499,000 VND (5G), the 512 GB version is 27,899,000 VND and 32,099,000 VND respectively. Nano-texture glass is only available in 256 GB and 512 GB versions, with a higher price. Readers can refer to genuine iPad lines at the Apple Flagship Store here.

The starting price is about 5.5 million VND, or nearly 40% higher, compared to the 13.99 million VND of the iPad mini 7 when launched at the end of 2024. In the US, the device costs from 699 USD (about 18 million VND), 100 USD higher than the iPad mini 7 after Apple raised the price of this device to 599 USD (about 16 million VND) in June, citing increased memory costs.

iPad mini 8 will start shipping in the US from November 6. In Vietnam, Apple has not announced the official opening date, users can sign up to receive notifications when products are available on the Apple Vietnam website.