Apple Addresses iPad mini's Lack of ProMotion [Video]

Apple's new iPad mini remains limited to a 60Hz refresh rate despite its switch to OLED. Asked about the lack of ProMotion, hardware engineering vice president Dave Pakula pointed to faster pixel response times and reduced motion blur in an interview with Christopher Lawley.

"Display experience is about more than just a single spec," Pakula said. He described OLED pixel response as more than ten times faster than LCD, alongside improvements in contrast, brightness, and color. That is a separate measure from refresh rate; the panel still does not offer 120Hz ProMotion.

The redesigned iPad mini has an 8.5-inch screen, up from 8.3 inches, within the same footprint. Its OLED panel reaches up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness and dims to 1 nit. Nano-texture glass is optional.

Moving to OLED also meant fewer layers in the display stack, helping Apple shave almost a millimeter off the enclosure. Pakula described portability as a priority for the redesign, which is 5.4 mm thick.

The interview also explains how the Acoustic Display speaker system works without conventional speaker grilles. While trying to reduce openings for water resistance, engineers found that the display's resonant frequency fell within the audible range, similar to a woofer.

Custom drivers energize the display for midrange and low frequencies. Higher frequencies come from two tweeters, one at each end, through hidden ports between the glass and aluminum. The tablet is IP67-rated for water and dust resistance, rather than being completely sealed.

The new iPad mini starts at $699 with an A20 Pro chip and supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C). It is available to pre-order on Amazon ahead of its November 6 release.