Apple's New iPad Mini 7: A Modest Upgrade with AI Potential

Apple iPad mini 7 review: Beefed up and ready for AI

Apple's new iPad mini, now in its seventh generation, looks the same as the last one, and while it brings a number of small upgrades across the board, none of them will knock you off your feet. It's hard to blame Apple for not doing more, though. Even though it launched three years ago, the 6th generation iPad mini was a massive upgrade that brought a completely new design, with a larger display, new Touch ID, and a new camera, among other improvements. The 7th generation iPad mini merely builds on that same design, but brings a new chip, more starting storage, and compatibility with Apple's (yet unreleased) Apple Intelligence features. The price for the Apple iPad mini 7 is the same as before, starting at $499 for the Wi-Fi version with 128GB of RAM, and $649 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant. If you want 256GB of storage, you'll have to add $100 to the starting price, and if you want to max it out at 512GB of storage, that'll cost you another $200 compared to the starting price. You can also add the Apple Pencil Pro to the mix for $129, and Apple's Smart Folio cover will cost you an additional $59. You'll need a keen eye to notice the differences between the iPad mini 7 and the previous one, but they do exist. The choice of colors is now Space Gray, Blue, Purple (lighter than before), and Starlight. The Pink variant is no longer available. Apple sent me a Starlight-colored unit, so I can't say how the new colors look in person. I did get the Smart Folio in Sage, which to my eyes appeared more like lime, and I liked the color a lot. There's another minor difference here: The previous version had an "iPad" inscription on the back, whereas the one on the new one says "iPad mini." Nice if you, like me, are a fan of the iPad mini. Other than these details, no one will be able to tell that you have the brand new iPad mini. Sorry. The new iPad mini is powered by Apple's A17 Pro chip (the same one that powers the iPhone 15 Pro), which gives it some gaming-related features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and enables (upcoming) AI features. Starting storage is 128GB, and you can now get the iPad mini with 512GB of storage, which wasn't available until now. There are also indications that the new iPad mini has 8GB of RAM, which doubles the previous model's 4GB of RAM. Other tidbits include faster USB-C data transfer, Bluetooth 5.3 support, and Wi-FI 6E connectivity -- all meaningful upgrades, though most users probably won't notice much of a difference. The cameras -- a 12-megapixel shooter on the back, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera on the front -- are mostly the same as before, with the most notable upgrades being Smart HDR 4 support. The big takeaways here are the big RAM increase and 128GB of starting storage, which is a huge upgrade as 64GB (the starting storage on the previous generation) was just cutting it way too close for comfort if you have a couple of games installed. The new chip is a big improvement over the previous version's A15 Bionic, but it's a pity that the new iPad mini doesn't have Apple's latest mobile processor, the A18 Pro which is found in the new iPhone 16 Pro. The company probably decided to cut costs on this one, but it does make the new iPad mini just a little less future-proof. I tested my unit with a combination of news apps, Chrome, Books, X, and Blizzard's Hearthstone. Everything felt sufficiently fast but don't expect iPad Pro performance; this is still a phone chip running things, and even a fairly simple game such as Hearthstone will push it pretty hard on high settings. I didn't have the iPad mini 7 long enough to properly test battery life, but Apple rates it the same as before (19.3 Wh battery, up to 10 hours of surfing on Wi-Fi, and up to nine hours of surfing on cellular), and I didn't notice much of a difference compared to the previous version. For a day, I used the iPad mini as a secondary display, next to my 16-inch M1 MacBook Pro, and it did struggle to keep up. But in more typical usage -- which for me is light reading and a bit of gaming, mostly at home -- battery life was never an issue. Apple made its life incredibly complicated with the belated launch of Apple Intelligence. The company's most important product, the new iPhone 16, launched without it. As for the iPad mini, it will launch at the same time as iOS 18.1 which brings some AI features, but it wasn't available at testing time. To complicate matters further, Apple Intelligence isn't currently available in Europe and China, and it won't be arriving there until 2025 (the UK is the exception here; Apple says AI is arriving there in December). Being in Europe, I have no access to it (unless I go through a number of convoluted steps to enable it), and it would be unfair to test a new device running beta software. This means that all I can say about AI is that this is the first and currently only iPad mini that supports it, and that it is coming soon (in the U.S.). Features will include Writing Tools, which can rewrite, proofread, and summarize your texts, a smarter Siri, Clean Up tool for photos, Genmoji, and integrated ChatGPT, among other features. The iPad mini 7 supports Apple Pencil Pro, with all the bells and whistles such as hover and squeeze. I don't have a need for Apple Pencil, and it seems to me that a heavy user would also prefer a larger canvas to draw on, so an iPad Pro would be a better option. Furthermore, the asking price of $129 for the Pencil Pro is a bit steep when compared to the $499 price of the entry-level iPad mini. Still, there's absolutely nothing wrong with this feature. I tested the Pencil Pro with the new mini, and it worked as advertised, and it's nice to have the option to use the company's best Pencil together with its smallest tablet. Absolutely. If you're new to the iPad, and you want the most compact one around (or any compact tablet), the new iPad mini 7 is the best choice. If you already rock the iPad mini 5th generation or earlier, it's also a no brainer; the new one looks better and is a lot more powerful. And if you own the previous, 6th generation iPad mini, it could also be worth upgrading, but if it's still fast enough for you and you don't care much about the AI features, you'll be OK if you sit this one out.

Apple iPad mini (2024) vs. iPad mini (2021): a hard sell | Digital Trends

The iPad mini has always been a pocket-sized powerhouse, offering an Apple tablet experience in a compact form. Initially, it catered to the same audience as the larger iPads. Apple later positioned the iPad mini to better match the specs of the iPad Air. After a three-year wait, Apple has finally unveiled the new iPad mini (2024). Has Apple given the iPad mini the attention it deserves? Is now the time to upgrade? Join us as we explore the changes and similarities between the iPad mini (2021) and the iPad mini (2024) and discuss whether the new one is worth an upgrade, or if you should wait and see what Apple puts out in the future. Recommended Videos iPad mini (2024) vs iPad mini (2021): specs iPad mini (2024) iPad mini (2021) Size 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 inches 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 inches Weight 0.65 pounds (Wi-Fi only) 0.66 pounds (Wi-Fi + Cellular) 0.65 pounds (Wi-Fi only) 0.66 pounds (Wi-Fi + Cellular) Screen size and resolution 8.3-inch Liquid Retina Display 2266‑by‑1488 resolution at 326 ppi 8.3-inch Liquid Retina Display 2266‑by‑1488 resolution at 326 ppi Brightness SDR brightness: 500 nits max SDR brightness: 500 nits max Operating system Ships with iPadOS 18.0.1 Apple should provide at least five years of software updates (to iPadOS 23) Shipped initially with iPadOS 15 Apple should provide at least five years of software updates (to iPadOS 20) Processor and RAM Six-core CPU with two performance cores and four efficiency cores Five-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine Six-core CPU with two performance cores and four efficiency cores Five-core GPU 16-core Neural Engine Available storage 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB 64GB and 256GB Cameras 12-megapixel Wide camera (rear) Ultra Wide camera (front) 12MP Wide camera (rear) Ultra Wide camera (front) Battery life Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using a cellular data network Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using a cellular data network Apple Pencil support Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil USB-C Apple Pencil (2nd generation) Colors Space Gray, Blue, Purple, Starlight Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Starlight Price From $499 (Wi-Fi only) From $649 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) From $499 (Wi-Fi only)From $649 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) Review Coming soon iPad mini (2021) iPad mini (2024) vs iPad mini (2021): design and display Stepping back in time from 2024 to 2021, you might find yourself experiencing a bit of déjà vu when it comes to the iPad mini. At first glance, the two models are twins, sharing the same sleek design and compact dimensions. Hold the new iPad mini (2024) in your hand, and you'll be greeted by the familiar comfort of its 7.69-inch by 5.3-inch frame. Peer into its vibrant 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, and you'll be met with the same rich colors and crisp details as its predecessor. The display on the new iPad mini (2024) also offers the same warm embrace of True Tone technology, the wide expanse of P3 color, and the subtle shield of an anti-reflection coating. The resolution remains a respectable 2266 x 1488 at 326 pixels-per-inch (ppi), while the peak brightness is still capped at 500 nits. Is there anywhere in the iPad mini (2024) 's design and display that differs from the previous model? The one design change is that the newer model is available in Space Gray, Purple, Starlight, and the all-new Blue. The previous model offered the same colors, except instead of Blue, there was a Pink option. Although there still isn't an official keyboard from Apple for the new iPad mini, this model does support the Apple Pencil Pro, unlike the earlier model. If you have a USB-C Apple Pencil for your older iPad mini, then it'll work with the new one too. iPad mini (2024) vs iPad mini (2021): performance Apple made a significant change this year in terms of performance with the iPad mini (2024). It now includes the same A17 Pro chipset found in the iPhone 15 Pro series, whereas the earlier model featured an A15 Bionic chip. According to Apple, this results in 30% faster CPU performance and 25% faster graphics. We'll test this in our review to see if the iPad mini (2024) lives up to these promises. Thanks to the new chip, the iPad mini (2024) becomes the first iPad without an M1 chip or later to support Apple Intelligence. Those AI features, announced earlier this year, should arrive in pieces with the iOS 18.1/iPadOS 18.1 update in just a few weeks. iPad mini (2024) vs iPad mini (2021): cameras and battery Apple iPads have never been known for their camera systems. And yet, sometimes you need to snap a quick pic, and for that, the iPad mini (2024), like the earlier model, has you covered. Apple has kept the camera setup consistent with the previous generation, recognizing that for most mini users, the camera is a convenient tool rather than a primary feature. There's still a capable 12-megapixel wide camera on the back for everyday shots and a 12MP ultrawide front camera with Center Stage that's perfect for those FaceTime calls with family and friends. There are also no changes regarding battery life. Expect to get between nine and 10 hours of use between charges. iPad mini (2024) vs iPad mini (2021): software The iPad mini (2024) will support Apple Intelligence, bringing new AI-powered features to iPads (and other Apple devices) for writing, focus, and communication. Though Apple Intelligence won't ship with the newest iPad mini, the first Apple Intelligence components should be available as a software upgrade in the coming days. The older iPad mini won't run Apple Intelligence at all, so keep that in mind if you're curious about Apple's AI. It's also worth noting that the iPad mini (2024) is expected to receive more iPadOS updates than its predecessor. Although Apple hasn't made an official commitment regarding the number of software updates its devices will get, it's reasonable to expect around five years of support. iPad mini (2024) vs iPad mini (2021): price and availability The newest iPad mini, like its predecessor, starts at $499 for the entry-level model. However, this year, that's a 128GB model, not one with only 64GB. You can also purchase an iPad mini (2024) with 256GB or 512GB of storage. Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi+Cellular options are available. Though Apple is no longer selling the iPad mini (2021), you might be able to find one through a third-party retailer, at least for a while, and perhaps at a discount. The newer model is now available for preorder, with the first units set for release on October 23. iPad mini (2024) vs iPad mini (2021): Should you upgrade? The iPad mini (2024) presents a compelling dilemma for owners of the 2021 model. Do you stick with the familiar comfort of your current iPad mini or take a leap of faith into the enticing world of Apple Intelligence and enhanced performance? The allure of the new iPad mini is undeniable. It's not just about Apple Intelligence. It's about a significant performance boost thanks to the A17 Pro chip, the expanded storage options that finally let you download all those movies you've been eyeing, and the creative possibilities unlocked by compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro. But let's face it. The lack of a dazzling new display or a revolutionary camera system might leave some people feeling underwhelmed. If you were hoping for an OLED for the iPad mini or a camera that rivals that of your iPhone, you're not going to find it with this update. So, the question remains: Is Apple Intelligence and a performance boost enough to justify an upgrade? Or are you willing to hold out for the next iteration, hoping for those long-awaited features like OLED and a truly pro-grade camera system? The choice is yours, of course. For us, it's not a big enough leap to justify the upgrade.

iPad Mini 2024 Review in Progress

The iPad Mini 7th-gen is built for Apple Intelligence, but it’s still a better realization of Apple’s tablets for most users. More than ever before, the 7th-gen iPad mini splits the difference between Apple’s smartphones and tablets. You won’t slip it into your pocket, but it's the perfect size for a small bag. You won’t be drawing elaborate sketches on its 8.3-inch display, but you will be scribbling notes or using the latest Apple Pencils for minor photo editing. You could spend hundreds of dollars more on a more capable iPad or opt for a tiny screen that seems to facilitate iPadOS better than its bigger brethren. We are still finishing up benchmarks and battery tests for our full review, but the iPad mini is still worth analyzing, especially in the light of Apple Intelligenceâ€"the first bits of which are set to debut Oct. 28. So picture me, sitting at my desk, one hand holding the 13-inch iPad Pro M4, the other with the 6-inch iPad mini, expected to ship starting Wednesday. Which one would I choose? I think the iPad mini fits into my life far better than a larger tablet with extra horsepower, and though it's not an overhaul, this is the best version of the mini we’ve had in years. The only question is how much Apple Intelligence will truly change how we might use a tiny iPad. How can you even compare the two? One starts at $1,300 for its size. It’s Apple’s thinnest, most powerful, and not to mention most expensive iPad to date. Compared to that, the humble mini starts at $500. It’s essentially the same Air-like chassis as the 6th-gen iPad mini from 2021. Now, it comes with two times the RAMâ€"up to 8 GBâ€"plus 128 GB of starting storage compared to the 64 GB of the last generation for the same starting price tag. Judging by the retail price, it's a better deal with the updated specs. More than ever, the iPad makes the case for small tablets over massive Rosetta Stone-sized slates. The iPad mini is essentially the same chassis as the one from 2021. It’s very Air-like, which is to say it's 6.3mm thinâ€"good enough for most purposes, though, with its typical wide bezels. Unlike the Air, it comes in fun colors like light blue and purple. My dark gray iPad review unit looks fine, though typical, but the purple makes me envious. Besides the new chip, the extra benefit of going with this year’s iPad is its WiFI 6E connectivity and a USB-C port supporting data transfers up to 10 GB/s, double that of the 6th gen. Though the iPad Pro was the standard bearer for the latest Apple silicon, the M4 chip, the iPad mini for 2024 houses an A17 Pro chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 15 Pro. You already know this new iPad will be faster than the 2021 version with its A15 Bionic CPU, but it's still the same experience. The iPad mini is Apple’s tablet at its baseline but with the added compatibility with the Apple Pencil Proâ€"my favorite stylus. Unfortunately, like all other iPads from 2024, it’s only compatible with the Pro and the Apple Pencil USB. If you have a 2nd-gen or older Apple Pencil, it won’t stick to or work with the new iPad. Apple said this is because the M4 iPad Pro needed to redesign its connection point to fit its new slim form factor. Whatever the truth, it’s still a pain for anybody planning to switch from the previous mini to the 7th-gen. As for the cameras, it's exactly what you expect. There’s a 12MP rear sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide front-facing camera. It’s handy for family photos in a pinch, but let’s be honest: you don’t buy an iPad for its camera at any price point. The front camera uses Center Stage, which adjusts the zoom level to keep you in the frame. I used it during a lengthy video call, and it works well enough. However, I did notice a nearly 20% battery drain in 40 minutes when using video calling with the added center-frame feature on the Microsoft Teams app. You’re only still looking at Apple’s flavor of LCD, “Liquid Retinae,†with its standard brightness that’s merely good enough. We have already had the chance to play around with Apple’s AI capabilities on iOS 18.1 Beta, and with that same feature set installed on iPad, it’s not going to change how you use your tablet. Although it’s been enough time to wait for an iPad mini refresh, the real reason Apple’s bringing this late entry is Apple Intelligence. The company’s latest iPadOS 18.1 release candidate offers the best idea of how users will actually get familiar with the tech giant’s AI features. These include Writing Tools, notification summaries, and a few added photo editing features like Clean Up. Starting with Clean Up, I found it improved significantly from the early beta days, but just like Google’s Magic Eraser, it’s not a fix for all your photo faux pas. It may erase background details far better than objects in the foreground, and you may find it leaves behind traces of objects or shadows. At least it's a relatively simple interface. All you need to do is circle the object with a finger or Pencil, and Apple will automatically remove it. The only other issue is how long it takes to load when you click the Clean Up button within Apple’s Photos app. Writing Tools is far more of a mixed bag. I personally have no reason to use any of the feature’s rewriting tools that will make my emails sound more “professional.†The proofreading feature isn’t bad. It will rejigger the sentences in my emails to fix any accidental comma splices. Unfortunately, I can’t currently bring up Writing Tools in Google Docs. Perhaps that might change in the future, but Google’s promoting its own AI tools for Workspace apps. Summarization can be useful, though the base “Summary†feature boils down a lengthy email to the point that it loses all nuance. I prefer the “Key Points†feature, which makes an email into bullet points. It does a pretty good job of taking a lengthy product brief full of PR mumbo jumbo and making it more concise and legible, though I still need to jump back to the original text to check the AI’s work. The new Siri interface is a fine upgrade. Instead of a giant floating orb, Siri is now presented as a wavy, colorful border. The upgrade also allows you to set it up to text to Siri, which is especially handy when you don’t want others around you to ask why you’re asking the assistant, “How do I take a screen recording?†Apple’s upgraded Siri should have all the product knowledge of Apple’s support pages plugged into a large language model. Still, when I asked standard product questions like “How can I use my iPad to scan documents?†or “How do I fix a photo if someone is blinking?†it used internet-based results rather than anything coming directly from Apple. This will probably change in the full release, but for now, using Siri is mostly the same as ever. Apple has improved iPadOS since it last debuted a tiny iPad in 2021, but some of those features still aren’t available for the tiny-screen iPad. For example, the iPad mini 2024 can’t use Stage Manager on the 8.3-inch display for better multitasking. Instead, you’re limited to Split View. Even on the 13-inch iPad, Stage Manager could barely paper over the lack of macOS-like versatility. Even with Split Screen, small-screen iPads are barely better at multitasking than your regular iPhone. You can drag around multiple windows on the 6.2-inch display of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. Yes, it likely wouldn’t be intuitive on such a small display, but I would prefer to have the option. Along with the Apple Pencil and the standard Apple folio, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything from the iPad mini despite its size. It’s nice to have a device small enough that I can type with my thumbs in landscape mode yet still bigger than my iPhone for watching videos or taking notes. I don’t need it to be anything more than it is, which may be bad news for Apple’s AI ambitions as they currently stand. Instead, the iPad mini acts as a regular companion, hanging out to the side of my MacBook, where I can focus on the important stuff. I keep the little guy to the side for notifications, bringing up the calendar, orâ€"more likelyâ€"bringing up YouTube when my brain is frying so hard it's about to boil and slip out my ears. We’re finishing our full benchmarking and battery tests, and we’ll be updating this review when those are finalized. As for now, the iPad Pro or larger iPad Air may be the Apple brand tablets I would drool over, but the mini feels like the iPad I would actually use day-to-day.

I Tested the New iPad Mini. It Has 3 Great Features (and 3 Not Great Ones)

Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps Apple's smallest iPad has been around for years and it has its fans. The advantages of a smaller tablet include a lower price and easier portability. It can slide into big jacket pockets or small bags, or be installed on dashboards, used by pilots or at a store as a point-of-sale screen. My kids like little iPads, and I like small tech in general too. Yet the 2024 iPad Mini, for all its subtle upgrades, doesn't really move me much. It's barely changed from its 2021 update; its two big additions are the ability to work with Apple's newest Pencil Pro and its support for Apple Intelligence. So far, I've tried the latest Mini with just one of these new features. I snapped a Pencil Pro on for a few days and tried using the Mini for all the gaming, video, messaging and reading I could think of. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to meaningfully try Apple Intelligence on the Mini yet because Apple didn't have a version of it running on the review model I tested until hours before this story. That capability, like Apple Intelligence on the company's iPhones, is coming very soon, though. Should you get an iPad Mini? If you're a Mini person, you probably know the answer already. If not, here's what you need to know. It's kind of a big phone, kind of a small computer and kind of low-priced for an Apple product. It's not going to replace my Kindle for reading, it won't replace my Nintendo Switch for portable gaming and definitely can't replace my phone or my laptop. It's a lovely little sketchpad, and it's an amazing screen for playing Balatro, but it lacks a spark of innovation. Maybe that will change with Apple Intelligence, but for now, I'll have to wait and see. This is exactly the set of updates I'd love to see on a new basic 10-inch iPad, which hasn't gotten an update in two years. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait for that as well. Apple has made its lineup of Pencil styluses incredibly confusing, with different iPads compatible with different Pencils. At least the newest, most capable Pencil Pro works with the Mini, making the Mini the cheapest doorway to using the Pencil Pro. The Pencil Pro has squeeze features to bring up sub-menus in supported apps, a hover feature that can be used to "pre-select" a tool or preview a feature before applying it, haptics to indicate selected options, and rotation so you can spin digital brushes. It's packed with potential, and yet not a ton of iPadOS apps make the most of it yet... and neither does iPadOS. I'm glad the Mini has support for it, and its $129 price isn't any higher than what the older Pencil 2 used to be. This Mini can't work with the Pencil 2 anymore, so you need the new Pencil, or you can use a USB-C basic Pencil ($79) instead which lacks pressure sensitivity, magnetic side charging to the Mini, and all the hover/squeeze/rotating Pencil Pro features. If you're buying a new Apple product at this point, you certainly want it to work with what Apple is touting as its biggest transformative set of tools for its future products. Apple Intelligence, launching in early beta form at the end of October, is little more than a set of generative AI-based summary and writing assistance tools for the most part right now, and in my opinion, hardly worth the upgrade. Also, I couldn't even try these tools out on the iPad Mini yet because the beta for Apple Intelligence on this device wasn't ready until hours before this story was finished. I'd expect that Apple Intelligence will become a growing part of how iOS, iPadOS and MacOS function in the future. Older Apple devices will likely be left out of major extras. It's nice that the new Mini can at least take advantage of Apple Intelligence features, but I'm concerned about how limited they'll be down the road. Apple says this Mini will handle all Apple Intelligence features well, but The Mini's A17 Pro chip is the one from last year's iPhone 15 Pro, and it's less powerful than the M1 chip (see below). But at least, right now, AI is enhanced on this iPad, something the three-year-old 2021 Mini can't do. My early impressions of Apple Intelligence, though, are mixed. A lot of it is message summaries and transcriptions in certain apps, writing improvement suggestions, enhanced search in some apps like Photos, and a few added tools like the object-removing Clean Up. Siri is enhanced, and it glows now, and you can type requests into it, which is helpful, but Siri sometimes still gives odd answers in my early tests. The USB-C port on this Mini can handle faster data throughput (10Gb/sec), which you might need depending on how you use it. It also has Wi-Fi 6E. I admit, the 8.3-inch iPad Mini is a fun size. It's the same design as last time, but it's tiny-feeling and easy to tuck away. I'm addicted to Balatro, an amazing indie game that arrived on Apple Arcade recently, and the iPad Mini might be the best screen size to play it on (better than Switch and iPhone, larger than Steam Deck). Watching a Mets playoff game on the Mini was fun. It's big enough to feel like a nice portable TV, and the aspect ratio is wide enough not to make shows feel too letterboxed. It's also a great size for reading. Still, for multitasking on split-screen mode with two apps, the real estate isn't nearly as good as on a larger-screened iPad. This iPad also lacks Stage Manager mode for floating apps in different-sized windows. The entry-level $499 price isn't too expensive for an Apple product. The base model at least comes with 128GB of storage now, which is more than enough for basic needs like streaming, reading and basic games. There's a new 512GB storage tier now ($799), and prices can ramp up fast if you want an Apple Pencil ($129), case (Apple's is $59) or optional 5G mobile wireless support ($150). This iPad is still more expensive than the basic 10th-gen iPad (which starts at $349 and is frequently on sale). The Mini's less-powerful, year-old phone processor holds it back. In Geekbench 6 tests, the Mini's single-core speed seemed to handle as well as other M1 and M2 iPads, but in multicore modes, it was worse than a last-gen M1-equipped iPad Air. The A17 Pro ekes into a ticket to Apple Intelligence, but it can't run some OS experiences that require an M-series processor, most notably Stage Manager. M-series iPads can run multiple extra apps on a connected monitor, but the Mini is limited to just screen mirroring, although video can also play back at 4K and 60fps on a monitor. That's a bummer for anyone who might have hoped for this Mini to be like a Mac Mini, in a sense: a tiny device that could connect to other screens and do even more. The rest of the iPad lineup moved its front camera to the longer landscape edge, making video chats look less off-center when paired with a keyboard or stand-equipped table mode. The Mini's camera remains on the short edge, like an iPhone. If you're holding a Mini, that makes sense. For families or even kids, it still makes chats feel off when the iPad is propped up. I thought they'd fix this, but they didn't. The iPad Mini got a fresh design in 2021 that made it feel up-to-date and similar to the rest of the iPad lineup, including a side Touch ID power button. Still, three years later, I expected at least a couple of new ideas. This Mini is the same size and thickness, and the display has the same non-120Hz refresh rate and isn't OLED. It's fine, but compared to a top-of-the-line iPhone Pro or the newest iPad Pros, it's a step down. Also, I'd like a smaller Pencil solution. It's nice that the Mini can dock a Pencil Pro to its side, but it looks weirdly large for the small tablet, and Apple hasn't come up with a better way to slide a small stylus into the Mini's design (or its cases). The same feeling goes for case options. There's still no Apple-made keyboard case for the Mini, although you can find other options. It just doesn't feel like Apple has tried to rethink the Mini's concept at all. Meanwhile, the basic non-Mini iPad has no 2024 upgrade yet despite being two years old. I'd expect, and want, exactly the same features this Mini has on the 11th-gen iPad to come: Pencil Pro support and Apple Intelligence compatibility. In the meantime, entry-level iPad shoppers are going to get compromises. The Mini is the basic set of upgrades I'd expect for a multiyear tune-up, and hopefully, Apple doesn't cut any more corners on the next basic iPad. In the meantime, anyone hoping for a non-too-expensive iPad for kids might consider the Mini for its relative updates and slightly lower cost than the Airs... but it's still not super-affordable enough to replace the basic iPad.

iPad Mini 7: Affordable Apple Intelligence Experience with Some Annoying Limitations

Apple recently took the wraps off its newest member of the ultraportable iPad lineup. The iPad Mini 7 arrived with an identical design to its now three-year-old predecessor. That said, the new offering is more capable than the previous iPad Mini 6. Thanks to the A17 Pro chipset and 8GB of RAM, the latest iPad Mini 7 is the cheapest way to experience Apple Intelligence features. However, the new Mini has certain annoying limitations which hold it back from being a perfect upgrade. What are those trade-offs? Should you care about them? Here's what I found missing in the iPad Mini 7. The new iPad Mini 7 might feature an A17 Pro chipset that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro models last year, but the iPad has a binned version of that chip. In the iPhone 15 Pro models, the A17 Pro chip has a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU, paired with 8GB of RAM. While the chip in the iPad Mini also has 8GB of RAM for AI capabilities, iPad Mini 7 Tech Specs suggests that it features a binned version of the chip with fewer cores. Specifically speaking, the A17 Pro chip in the iPad mini 7 has a 5-core GPU, compared to the 6-core GPU in the iPhone 15 Pro models. That means you can't expect an iPhone 15 Pro-like graphics performance on the iPad Mini 7. Even benchmarks have revealed that the iPad Mini 7 is slower than the iPhone 15 Pro. Well, this isn't a surprise as Apple has used binned versions of its chipset in some devices before. For reference, Chip Binning is a quality control process used in the manufacturing of computer chips to maximize supply chain yield and reduce waste. Rather than scrapping chips with one defective GPU core, Apple has likely disabled that core to salvage those chips for the iPad Mini 7. Despite having a binned version, everyday tasks on the iPad Mini 7 shouldn't be affected. However, it would have been much better if Apple introduced the iPad Mini 7 with A18 or A18 Pro chipset for better future-proofing. After all, Apple doesn't refresh its ultraportable lineup every year. The new Mini 7 was introduced just over three years after the iPad Mini 6 launch in September 2021. Before the launch, there were several rumors that the new iPad Mini 7 would arrive with some impressive display improvements. We expected to see an upgraded ProMotion display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Unfortunately, Apple hasn't got past its 60Hz refresh rate obsession. The new iPad Mini 7 with Apple Intelligence support still has an outdated 60Hz display. The new iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, and iPad Air M2 (2024) are also stuck with the same 60Hz screens, so we might not see it as a dealbreaker on the affordable Mini. However, it could be a damn big deal if Apple hasn't fixed the jelly scrolling issue. There were strong rumors and speculations that Apple would definitely make some changes to the iPad mini's display to fix the infamous "jelly scrolling" issue, once and for all. For reference, Jelly Scrolling is a display phenomenon that gives you the illusion that one side of the display responds faster than the other. This gives a noticeable lag when scrolling in the Portrait orientation. At that time, Apple said it was normal for an LCD screen to exhibit such behavior, but they were serious about minimizing the effect. However, Apple didn't explicitly mention if the issue has been fixed in the new Mini. If not, it would raise concerns over the display quality. We'll test the iPad Mini 7 to figure out if Apple has fixed the jelly-scrolling issue or not. Despite being packed with a powerful A17 Pro chipset, 5G connectivity, iMessage, FaceTime, and other communication tools, the iPad Mini 7 still can't make calls natively. We all know that an iPad, even if it's a cellular model can't directly access cellular voice or messaging features. A cellular iPad model can only access IP data service. If you wish to make or receive calls on your iPad, you have to set up your iPhone to allow calls on your other devices. Sitting at 8.3 inches, an iPad Mini 7 is pretty big to hold up to your ear, but it would be ideal for phone calls when paired with AirPods or another compatible headset. No native phone calls feel a major missing, especially when the market is full of tablets that can make calls over LTE. Priced at $649, the Wi-Fi + 5G model of the iPad Mini 7 is still more affordable than the base model of the iPhone 16, which starts at $799. If Apple enabled phone call functionality, the iPad Mini 7 would be a capable Apple Intelligence device that could even replace your iPhones. Imagine a portable and affordable device that can handle everything from phone calls to AI features. This could have been a game changer for students, travelers, and users with a similar preference. Besides these limitations, the new iPad Mini makes a solid option to experience Apple Intelligence. It would be nice if Apple wiped off the above issues, but it might also make the Mini 7 an expensive affair. It's clear that Apple hasn't offered anything premium, but it's nice to see double storage and AI capabilities, without any price hikes. When paired with little quality-of-life improvements like Wi-Fi 6E support and Apple Pencil Pro support, the Mini 7 would please fans of the most portable Apple tablet. The lack of the above features holds the iPad Mini 7 back from becoming the perfect device, but it still bags the title of the most affordable device with Apple Intelligence. When Apple releases its AI suite of features, you should be able to use everything, from Writing Tools to all-new powerful Siri. It's with knowing that Apple is likely is launch its next-generation affordable iPhone lineup, the iPhone SE 4 in early 2025. The upcoming iPhone SE 4 is anticipated to arrive with an A18 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and Apple Intelligence support. Interestingly, the iPhone SE 4 is rumored to launch with a similar $429 price tag, though there may be a 10 percent price increase. Even if Apple increases the price by this margin, the iPhone SE 4 would not exceed the $500 mark, which would make it the cheapest way to enter the Apple Intelligence ecosystem. Therefore, the iPad Mini 7 will be the cheapest way alongside the iPhone SE 4 once it launches early next year. What are your thoughts on the iPad Mini 7? Are you planning to buy the new Mini? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below.

Apple Just Announced a New iPad Mini

It's been three years since Apple refreshed the iPad mini, though you might not realize that based on aesthetics alone. The sixth-generation mini, for all intents and purposes, looks like any other modern iPad, albeit much smaller. But fans of this form factor have been weary about paying full price for a tablet running aging hardware, and have been looking to Apple to upgrade this novel product for some time. Today's the day, people. After plenty of rumors, including the potential for a full October event, Apple quietly announced the newest seventh-generation iPad mini. It's the update many of us have been waiting for, but, ironically, it might make the iPad mini 6 a better deal than ever. Anyone concerned with aging hardware can relax with the iPad mini 7: While this tablet doesn't come with an M-series chip like the iPad Pro or the iPad Air, it does ship with the A17 Pro chip, the same chip found in the iPhone 15 Pro. Apple does have a newer A-series chip than this, the A18, which is the chip the iPhone 16 series uses. That said, the A17 Pro is plenty powerful for a mini tablet, and is only one year old, so Apple will likely support it for quite a number of years. To that point, Apple says the A17 Pro's CPU is up to 30% faster than the iPad mini 6's A15 Bionic, while graphics are up to 25% faster. Most importantly in 2024, the A17 Pro has a Neural Engine that is twice as fast as the iPad mini 6's. That new Neural Engine means the iPad mini 7 can run Apple Intelligence, including new AI features like notification summaries, AI-powered writing tools, and an overhauled Siri. Initial Apple Intelligence features will ship with iPadOS 18.1, while future features, like Apple's AI art generator, ChatGPT integration, and additional AI-powered Siri features, won't arrive until future versions of iPadOS. The new mini also supports Apple's latest Apple Pencil: Apple Pencil Pro. This Pencil comes with a sensor that lets you squeeze the stylus to access a new palette tool on your iPad. When you do squeeze it, a new haptic engine offers a small vibration, so it feels like you've clicked something in the Pencil. I'm a sucker for haptic feedback, since it offers a tactile experience for devices without dedicated buttons. Apple Pencil Pro also supports tilting, which previous Apple styluses did not, and offers Find My capabilities, so you can use the Find My app to locate your Pencil if it goes missing (as skinny cylinders are wont to do.) The new iPad mini 7 also supports Wi-Fi 6E, which Apple says is up to twice as fast as Wi-Fi 6 on the iPad mini 6. It also supports Bluetooth 5.3, which should offer higher-quality and more reliable connections to wireless devices. If you ever use a wired connection with your iPad, the mini 7's USB-C port is also up to two times faster than the mini 6's, as this USB-C port supports up to 10Gbps transfer speeds. Just make sure you buy the right USB-C cable. Apple is swapping out two of the iPad mini 6's colors for new options this time around. While Space Gray and Starlight are still here, Pink and Purple have been replaced by Blue and a lighter Purple. Apple's iPad mini 6 launched with a paltry 64GB of internal storage. Unless you save all your stuff to the cloud, that's way too few GB for 2024, let alone for 2021. With the mini 7, Apple is rectifying the situation, and offering 128GB of storage in the base model, for the same $499 starting price. 64GB of storage was always a joke for this tablet, but by far, the biggest flaw with the iPad mini 6 was "jelly scrolling." One half of this tablet's display refreshes faster than the other, which results in a subtle jiggle effect as you scroll in portrait orientation. It's not the most obvious thing in the world, but it is noticeable, and if you're someone who's bothered by that sort of thing, you'll never unsee it. It's not clear whether this issue has been fixed with the iPad mini 7, since the device was only announced today. It does seem to use the exact same display with a refresh rate of only 60Hz, so it's possible this iPad will also have jelly scrolling problems. We won't know until testers get their hands on it, however. Other than the above changes, that's really all that's new here. That A17 processor is really where you're going to notice the biggest difference, unless you frequently download huge files over wifi, transfer data over USB-C, or want to use the "Pro" Apple Pencil. Everything else about these iPads is about the same: They're both identical in form factor and weight, so you would never be able to pick out a Space Gray mini 6 vs. a Space Gray mini 7 out of a lineup. The cameras are the same on both models, although the mini 7 does use some AI features to enhance the process. They both use Touch ID, and have the same dual speakers. In fact, the mini 6 offers a physical SIM slot in addition to eSIM, while the mini 7 only offers eSIM. Objectively, the iPad mini 7 is the best mini tablet Apple has to offer. That said, for most tasks right now, both tablets are quite capable. If you don't care about AI features, and can manage with 64GB of storage, you can save yourself $120 right now by buying an iPad mini 6 on Amazon. If you have $500 to burn, but you'd prefer more storage over an upgraded processor, you could get an iPad mini 6 with 256GB. If you'd prefer the latest and greatest, Apple's seventh-generation iPad mini launches on Wednesday, Oct. 23. However, you can pre-order the tablet right now through Apple's website. You can buy the iPad mini 7 for $499 (128GB), $599 (256GB), and 512GB ($799). If you want the cellular model, which lets you connect your iPad to a paid cellular plan, add an extra $150 to each price point.

Apple's Latest iPad Mini Is a Small but Future-Proofed Update for the AI Future

The iPad Mini has always felt like an outlier in Apple's iPad lineup. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles like the iPad Pro, it's not the cheapest iPad, and unlike the iPad Air, it's a little too small to use for work. That size is its biggest strength though -- if you really want a tiny tablet to tote around everywhere, the iPad Mini doesn't have strong competition and remains the best. The latest iteration maintains that ethos and brings the tablet up to speed with Apple's other new products: Apple Intelligence and Apple Pencil Pro. With double the storage over its predecessor (128 GB), the seventh-generation iPad Mini retains its $499 price. That makes it the most affordable way to wade into Apple's artificial intelligence features and the Pro stylus. (Fun fact: Apple seems to be stepping away from using "generations" to identify its iPads and is instead using processor names; not clunky at all.) There are a few questionable choices with this new iPad but none impact its overall usability. It's still the same great tiny tablet we know and love, even if I'm not the target demographic. I use my iPad to watch too much TV, and this fun-sized screen is a little too small for my taste. The sixth-generation iPad Mini from 2021 got a major makeover, shedding the home button and chunky bezels around the screen for the modern look we're accustomed to today. Naturally, that means the seventh-gen iPad Mini looks virtually identical. It's compact enough to use one-handed (great for reading ebooks!) and easily fits into bags big and small. I had no trouble with the 2K-resolution display, even when using the Mini outdoors -- it gets plenty bright. But I can't talk about the iPad Mini display without going over the infamous "jelly scrolling" fiasco on the 2021 model. iPad Mini owners bemoaned that one side of the screen refreshed slower than the other when scrolling up and down on the display. I didn't experience this with my Mini, but Apple did make it a point to optimize the LCD in the latest model to alleviate this issue. Apple was tight-lipped on exactly what it changed, but for what it's worth, I once again have yet to see any problems on my test unit. The display still has a 60-Hz refresh rate. (You can read more about what this means here, but a higher refresh rate makes everything on the display appear smoother; Apple calls this "ProMotion" on the iPad Pro.) This isn't surprising considering the new iPhone 16 also didn't get bumped to 120 Hz, but it's frustrating, as most phones and tablets have 90- or 120-Hz panels at this price, like the OnePlus Pad 2. It would've been nice to see a 90-Hz refresh rate at the least.

iPad Mini 2024: Keeping up with the pack | TechCrunch

It was a lean few years for the iPad. The tablet fell out of favor with Apple, as the company turned its focus to other categories like mobile, content, wearables, and mixed reality. The same could have been said about the Mac a few years prior, but the laptop/desktop has had a renaissance in Cupertino, thanks largely to the arrival of Apple Silicon. One could argue that the iPad is experiencing its own moment. Apple certainly made a statement in May, when the M4 debuted on the new iPad Pros. It was the first time the M-series of desktop processors premiered on a non-Mac device. At different times in its history, the iPad has hewed more closely to either the iPhone or Mac. The May news made it clear that at very least, Apple views the high end of its tablet line landing closer to the laptop side of things. At the same event, Apple brought M2 to the iPad Air. It was a 2-year-old chip, sure, but it still offered a lot of firepower for a little tablet. Last week, the company updated the iPad Mini for the first time since 2021. Unlike the Pro and Air before it, the smallest member of the iPad family did not receive an M-series chip. Instead, Apple opted to outfit the 8.3-inch tablet with an A17 Pro -- the same bit of silicon powering the new iPhone 16 Pro models. With that move, the Mini leapfrogs the base iPad in compute power -- though that is a result of the slate not receiving an update since the 10th gen arrived in 2022. Because of that discrepancy, the standard iPad is now several generations behind the Mini, with an A14 Bionic under the hood. As a result, the Mini also leapfrogged the iPad in cost. The Wi-Fi version of the tablets now run $499 and $349, respectively, with the cellular/5G models coming in at $649 and $499. A $150 gulf is not insignificant, especially given the notable differences in screen sizes: 8.3 vs. 10.1 inches. In spite of its smaller size, however, the Mini is a more premium device than the 10th-gen iPad. For one thing, the Mini manages to pack in nearly as many pixel with a 2,266 x 1,488 resolution to the iPad's 2,360 x 1,640. This, in turn, comes courtesy of a substantially higher pixel density at 326 ppi to the iPad's 264. As a matter of fact, the new Mini has a higher pixel density than any other iPad. Higher pixel densities matter more the smaller the screen, as they're able to fit more, sharper details into a smaller space. It's no wonder, then, that even the iPad Mini scores well below the iPhone 16's 460 ppi. Apple's irregular iPad release schedule has left the line in flux. As it stands now, however, the Mini outdoes the base iPad by pretty much ever metric, other than screen size. That is not an irrelevant detail, of course. In fact, the iPad Mini's 8.3 inch screen size is almost exactly the halfway point between the iPad (10.1) and iPhone 16 Pro Max (6.3). The Mini also occupies that liminal space as a tool. It is, for example, better for watching TV shows and movies than the iPhone, given its relatively large screen. But if entertainment is your primary driver, it's difficult to make a case for the Mini over the Air, Pro, or even the base iPad. To its credit, Apple is leaning into some key customer use cases with the welcome addition of Apple Pencil and Pencil Pro compatibility. At 7.69 x 5.3 inches, the tablet is a great size for taking notes and drawing. That's certainly enhanced with the fully revamped version of Calculator, which is now a far more powerful math class companion. Indeed, the tablet is well suited for the educational market in general. Its small size makes it a heck of a lot easier to toss into a backpack and pull out during a lecture. It's also an ideal size for reading -- though if that's your primary applications for a device like this, it may ultimately make more sense to invest in a devoted e-reader, like one of the new Kindles, as those devices are gentler on the eyes and offer significantly longer battery life than tablets. The inclusion of the A17 Pro chip makes the Mini an interesting proposition in education for one more key reason: Apple Intelligence. As of this writing, current iPads -- aside from the base model -- will be able to run Apple's small model generative AI platform. With that comes the ability to let iPadOS rewrite letters and other documents for you. Having that sort of functionality baked into the operating system will only further serve to blur the lines when it comes to writing term papers. That said, there's nothing in terms of text generation that Apple Intelligence can accomplish for which students don't already have access to through platforms like ChatGPT. As for the non-students of the world, the role of an iPad mini is less apparent. I've certainly found applications for the form factor that slot well into my own life. For example, I plan to keep my notes for my Disrupt panels on the little tablet at next week's event. Personally speaking, however, I don't feel there are enough use cases in my own life to warrant the purchase of a small tablet rather than a big iPhone or standard iPad. If you do, the upgraded silicon, Apple Intelligence compatibility, and Pencil use are all compelling reasons to upgrade.

The new iPad mini 7 is a surprisingly small update - why is that? - 9to5Mac

Yesterday saw the announcement of the new iPad mini 7, and the biggest news here is that, three years after the launch of its predecessor, it's not much of an upgrade. It feels like Apple did pretty much the minimum necessary here, which includes using the oldest possible processor capable of running Apple Intelligence ... We yesterday walked through the differences between the iPad mini 7 and its predecessor, starting with that processor - with the A17 Pro from last year's iPhone 15 Pro models replacing the A15 Bionic. Apple highlighted the differences between the two: A17 Pro delivers a 30 percent boost in CPU performance. A17 Pro also brings a boost in graphics performance with a 5-core GPU, delivering a 25 percent jump over the previous generation. But it seems clear that the goal here was to produce an iPad mini capable of running Apple Intelligence, and do no more than that. This does mean the device is virtually guaranteed to have 8GB RAM (up from 4GB), as that's a requirement for AI, but it's otherwise a very modest upgrade. The new device supports Apple Pencil Hover, as well as wireless charging support for the Apple Pencil Pro. There are some connectivity upgrades: 10Gbps USB-C connectivity (from 5Gbps), Wi-Fi 6E (versus Wi-Fi 6), and Bluetooth 5.3 (over 5.0), but none of these provide a compelling upgrade argument for most. Perhaps the best thing outside of Apple Intelligence is a doubling of base storage from 64GB to 128GB for the same price, but that again feels like something Apple had to do by this point. The form factor is the same, bar a new (very muted) color, so it's not smaller or lighter, nor does it have any design enhancements. Battery life is unchanged. The camera is the same, other than a tiny upgrade from Smart HDR 3 to 4. It's also still on the short edge, though this is perhaps more understandable on a device which is most typically used in portrait orientation. The display is completely unchanged: it's the exact same 8.3-inch 2266 x 1488 pixel panel, with the same maximum brightness of 500 nits. There are a couple of possible explanations here, led by price. The biggest market for the iPad mini is believed to be businesses, rather than consumers. The device has proven popular for tasks like warehouse inventory and digital menu pads for wait staff, where the compact size is key for something designed to be held in one hand. This means price is key. While a consumer might look at more impressive upgrades and decide they are worth a price bump, businesses buy the devices in bulk, and even a small unit price increase can act as a significant barrier to purchase. The A17 Pro is a cheaper chip than an A18, or the M2 used in the iPad Air. It's also why Apple doesn't change the form-factor lightly. It's common for business users to use bulk charging stations, for example, as well as some mounting docks - and no business wants to have to replace these to accommodate a new device. This was likely the main reason Apple took so long to update the iPad mini to the modern all-screen format in the first place. Jason Snell has another theory about the A17 Pro chip: Apple may have had an excess supply of these sitting around, while it needs all the A18 chips it can get to meet iPhone 16 demand. Apple ended up with excess A17 Pro chips after discontinuing the 15 Pro. [Or] these are all just binned versions (with five GPU cores instead of six) that didn't make the cut for the iPhone and were sitting around to be repurposed in another product. [Or] Apple has a contract with TSMC that includes enough capacity for them to continue building this chip until that deal runs out. [Or] Apple didn't want to divert any of a presumably limited quantity of fresh A18 chips to the iPad mini when it had iPhone 16s to build. Snell also shares my view that this is something of a holding measure, and that there has to be a new new iPad mini in the works sooner rather than later. Apple can't really keep this version on sale for another three years. If you currently own the iPad mini 6, almost certainly not. The only real reason to upgrade is if you must have access to Apple Intelligence on the device, and you need it now. That said, this alone could be reason enough for some. Not those who own any device already capable of running Apple Intelligence. If you own an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16; any M-series iPad; or any M-series Mac, then there's likely no real reason to also want AI features on your iPad mini. But if you don't currently own an AI-capable device, then the iPad mini 7 does have one thing going for it: It's now the cheapest Apple device giving access to Apple Intelligence. That might be its most compelling selling point.

The New iPad Mini Gets an Apple Intelligence Boost

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED The seventh generation of Apple's tiniest iPad is finally here, three years since its last refresh. There was no fancy pretaped or live event -- the company quietly announced the new tablet through its online newsroom. The headline feature encapsulating this device? Apple Intelligence. Apple's artificial intelligence features still aren't available for the iPhone 16, but they're due to arrive this month via iOS 18.1. Starting at $499 for the base model, the seventh-gen iPad Mini has the same chassis as its predecessor, but with a few upgrades including a new processor, support for Apple Intelligence, and double the storage. It also works with the latest Apple Pencil Pro. It's available for preorder now and ships October 23. The sixth-generation iPad Mini got a major facelift in 2021, so it's not shocking that Apple kept the external features the same in this iteration. This tablet packs an 8.3-inch LCD screen, slim bezels, a 12-megapixel selfie camera, along with a USB-C port (now with 10 Gbps data transfer speeds). The rear camera has a 12-megapixel sensor with support for Smart HDR 4, an updated image processing algorithm with the capability to detect and scan documents from the Camera app (a feature we saw introduced back in May with the M4-powered iPad Pro). The more significant changes are inside. Apple upgraded the processor from the A15 (the chipset inside the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro models) to an A17 Pro, the very same that's in the iPhone 15 Pro. With a six-core CPU, the company claims it delivers a 30 percent boost in CPU performance while the five-core GPU offers a 25 percent jump compared to the previous model. Meanwhile, the neural engine is twice as fast. Putting this chip inside the iPad Mini means it can support Apple Intelligence -- a suite of artificial intelligence tools coming in iOS 18.1. It makes the iPad Mini the cheapest tablet of the lineup to have these features. Other supported models include the 5th-gen M1 iPad Air, 6th-gen M2 iPad Air, 5th-gen M1 iPad Pro, 6th-gen M2 iPad Pro, and 7th-gen M4 iPad Pro.

iPad Mini Is Back, and Apple Says It's Primed for AI

The teeny tiny iPad Mini may still be barely bigger than an iPhone, but this time it’s packing an A17 Pro chip plus support for Apple Pencil Pro. You already have your giant iPhones with the iPhone 16 Pro Max covered, but what if you wanted all that juicy AI goodness with a little more screen? Apple debuted its new iPad mini on Tuesday, showing a 7th edition small tablet with the Cupertino, California company’s latest mobile chip while promising it will be ready for AI. The new $500 Mini is packing the A17 Pro, the same chip found in the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. It’s been three years since we had the last iPad mini, but the main changes to the design are mostly internal. It still houses an 8.3-inch “Liquid Retina†LCD, but Apple said the 7th-gen version should be much more capable with CPU and GPU. The bigger NPU should mean better background AI processing than the 6th-gen’s hexacore CPU. No, it won’t be as powerful as the recent iPad Air, especially not the M4 iPad Pro, but the new iPad will be a bit more capable with support for Apple Pencil Pro, something that can’t be said for most pre-2024 iPads. It now supports WiFi 6E compared to WiFi 6 of the previous generation (not even the latest iPad Pro supports WiFi 7). There's additional support for Bluetooth 5.3, which you should expect from any new device in 2024. The new iPad mini also supports transfer speeds up to 10 GB/s compared to the 5 GB/s of the 2021 Mini. This latest release is supposed to mark another device capable of supporting Apple Intelligence. It’s running on iPadOS 18 out of the box. The tiny iPad should still get some of the best new OS features, like Math Notes and transcripts in Audio Recording. It’s still packing a 12MP wide camera on the rear, and it comes in four colors, ranging from the usual gray and starlight to a teal-hued blue and a light purple. As for the long-promised AI features, the iPad mini will support Writing Tools for summarizing and rewriting text, plus a few Magic Eraser-like pixel replacement tools called Clean Up for removing unwanted elements from photos. Siri will have a new look when activating the assistant, plus it should have a few AI capabilities that will help it understand questions even when you stumble over your words. The true Siri upgrade, which will let it operate on your phone between apps, is expected to be available sometime in 2025. According to Apple, AI image generation and ChatGPT integration will take a few more months. The iPad Mini starts at $500 for 128 GB, which is significant since it's two times the starting storage of the previous Mini at the same price. Otherwise, you can get the 256 GB version for $600 or opt for 512 GB for $800. Cellular connectivity through eSIM will push that price even higher. The device is up for preorder now and is set to ship on Oct. 23.

New AI-focused iPad Mini 7 in a nutshell

Three years after the iPad Mini (2021), Apple has finally rejuvenated its smallest tablet by unveiling the new iPad Mini 7, complete with an A17 Pro chip designed for enhanced performance and AI capabilities. The new iPad Mini 7 retains its familiar 8.3-inch form factor but introduces fresh upgrades beyond just raw power. Notably, it comes in two new color options -- blue and purple -- adding to the existing starlight and space gray. Storage has also been expanded, with configurations now ranging from 128GB to 512GB. Pricing for the Mini 7 starts at $499 / £499 / AU$799 for the Wi-Fi model, while the Wi-Fi and Cellular model begins at $649 / £649 / AU$1,049. Pre-orders are available starting today. One of the standout features of the Mini 7 is its support for the Apple Pencil Pro, a nod to the creative crowd who may find the compact tablet ideal as a digital notebook. With the A17 Pro chip, previously seen in the iPhone 15 Pro series, Apple claims the tablet delivers double the Neural Engine's speed compared to the Mini 6, along with faster CPU and GPU performance. The iPad Mini 7 also retains its 12MP rear camera, now enhanced with Smart HDR 4 for improved image quality. Connectivity has been upgraded to include Wi-Fi 6E, promising faster, more stable wireless connections. Perhaps the most intriguing update is the addition of Apple's "Intelligence" features, set to roll out later this month in the US. The iPad Mini 7 is positioned as an enticing mix of portability and power, particularly for those who value a smaller form factor without sacrificing performance. Beyond its compact design, what stands out is Apple's clear focus on integrating advanced AI capabilities into the device, suggesting that the Mini 7 may be a pivotal gadget in Apple's evolving AI strategy. The inclusion of the A17 Pro chip, which has already demonstrated impressive AI capabilities in the iPhone 15 Pro series, points towards an emphasis on on-device intelligence. Features like the Neural Engine's doubled speed and the forthcoming Apple Intelligence tools suggest that this tablet is designed to do much more than just serve as a portable media device; it's a showcase of Apple's ambitions in embedding machine learning capabilities into everyday tools. The AI-powered writing tools in apps like Mail and Notes, along with imaging enhancements such as the Clean Up feature, indicate that Apple is actively working to make AI-driven productivity accessible in a seamless way. By enhancing ordinary tasks through intelligent automation, the Mini 7 might serve as a bridge to bring advanced AI tools to a broader audience -- those who prefer a compact, versatile device. This focus on AI also aligns with Apple's broader trajectory of integrating machine learning and AI across its product lineup, aiming to create a consistent, smarter user experience. The iPad Mini 7 may not only be a creative tool or a convenient tablet but also a device that helps redefine how users interact with technology by incorporating AI in an intuitive, unobtrusive manner.

Apple finally gives us a new iPad Mini after three years

27 years ago, Microsoft bought $150 million worth of Apple stock after the company almost went bankrupt Key Takeaways Apple releases new iPad mini with A17 Pro chip, 8.3-inch screen, and AI-powered camera enhancements. iPad mini supports Wi-Fi 6E and 5G for fast download speeds, USB-C port improvements, and iPadOS 18 updates. Preorders are available now for $499, with an October 23rd release date at Apple Stores and Authorized Resellers. If you're a fan of the iPads but find the current models a bit too large for your liking, you may be a huge fan of the iPad mini. The last time we saw one enter the Apple ecosystem was just over three years ago, and we hadn't heard much about when the next model would come along. Now, Apple has finally broken the silence and pulled back the curtains on its new iPad mini, and it's looking like a real winner. Related M2 iPad Air (2024) review: A tablet with totally fine updates The M2 iPad Air really has two selling points: the newer silicon and the new 13-inch option. That's about it, but I'm ok with boring. Apple announces the iPad mini As announced on the Apple Newsroom, the company is now taking orders for its new iPad mini. As you'd expect from the name, the device comes with a modest 8.3-inch Liquid Retina screen which makes it super portable. However, that doesn't mean it's lacking in power, as it's packing an A17 Pro chip, the same one you'll find in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. It also starts off with 128GB of storage, double that of the previous generation. When it's time to take the iPad mini online, fans of the smaller form factor will be pleased to hear that the newest edition supports Wi-Fi 6E and 5G for faster download speeds. Apple has also doubled the speed of the USB-C port over the previous model, and the 12-megapixel back camera comes with new AI tools to help enhance your photos. And yes, this is all bundled in with iPadOS 18, so you'll be up to date on all the latest innovations from Apple If you want one of your own, you can preorder one right now starting from $499. If you don't grab one now, you can still pick one up when it releases on October 23rd, where you can find it in Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple iPad mini (2024) The iPad mini is supercharged by the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence, the easy-to-use personal intelligence system that understands personal context to deliver intelligence that is helpful and relevant while protecting user privacy. $499 at Apple

Apple Annonces iPad Mini 7 with A17 Pro and Apple Intelligence

After just over three years, Apple finally showed some love on its most portable iPad lineup. Apple today introduced a new iPad Mini 7, powered by the A17 Pro chipset and Apple Intelligence support. The A17 Pro is a capable chipset that we first saw on the iPhone 15 Pro models. Therefore, just like the iPhone 15 Pro & iPhone 15 Pro Max, the latest iPad Mini 7 will support Apple's full suite of AI features, including Writing Tools, Genmoji, and more. Read on to know what's more in the newly-launched iPad Mini 7. In terms of design, the new iPad Mini 7 looks identical to the previous iPad Mini 6. The new Mini features an ultraportable 8.3-inch Liquid Retina Display with True Tone and 500 nits of brightness. Unfortunately, Apple is still stuck with the 60Hz refresh rate with its new offering. This means the overall design and display remain the same. However, the Mini 7 features a new magnetic charging region to support the Apple Pencil Pro. This makes the latest Mini 7 more versatile and capable than the previous generations. You'll find the same 12MP primary camera and a 12MP ultra-wide front-facing camera in the portrait orientation. Well, this makes sense for a device of this size. While there are no design upgrades, the iPad Mini 7 is all new and powerful from the inside. Thanks to the A17 Pro chipset, the new Mini claims to deliver incredible performance and power efficiency in a super portable design. Compared to the previous iPad Mini 6, the latest model delivers up to a 30 percent boost in CPU performance. A17 Pro also brings a big boost in graphic performance, delivering up to a 25 percent jump over the older model. With Apple Intelligence support, you can access Writing Tools, all-new powerful Siri, ChatGPT integration, and more on the iPad Mini 7. The new Mini comes in new Blue and Purple color options, alongside Starlight and Space Gray finishes. Also, Apple has beefed up the storage options, without any price hikes. The iPad mini 7 Wi-Fi model starts at $499 for the 128GB storage, which is double the storage of the older models at the same price. Also, the new Mini now comes in 256GB and 512GB options too. The Wi-Fi and Cellular model starts at $649. The new iPad will ship with the latest iPadOS 18 right out of the box. The iPad mini 7 is up for pre-orders from today, with deliveries starting as early as tomorrow.

iPad Mini 7 Is The Cheapest Way To Enter The Apple Intelligence Ecosystem With Features That Compete With The 'Pro' Models

If you want to use the new Apple Intelligence features but do not have the budget to upgrade to the higher-end iPhone 15 Pro or the iPhone 15 lineup, you still have one option. Apple has just released the iPad mini 7 with powerful intervals and upgraded RAM, and it markets the device as Apple Intelligence-ready. It might be the only device in its price range that will get you into the company's new AI features. The iPad mini 7 announcement was a surprise as the device was not supposed to be announced until November 1, as per prior reports. However, the company could be planning a dedicated event for its M4 Macs, and it could happen sooner rather than later. The company announced Apple Intelligence at its WWDC event in June alongside iOS 18/iPadOS 18, and the service has a lot going for it. Apple Intelligence will completely transform how we use our iPhones and iPads with some pretty nifty tools and utilities to make everything simpler. However, only a handful of devices currently support Apple Intelligence as the service requires a specific set of internals to work. Nonetheless, the company is dedicated to upgrading its existing product line with upgraded internals to bring the AI features to a wide range of audience. With that said, the company upgraded the iPad mini 7 with last year's A17 Pro chip, the same SoC that powers the iPhone 15 Pro models. Additionally, we have recently covered that the device also features 8GB of RAM compared to 4GB of RAM on the iPad mini 6, which is a major requirement for Apple Intelligence features to work. This means that the iPad mini 7 is the company's first budget iPad to receive the Apple Intelligence upgrade and the company is marketing the device with AI features as well. If you are on a budget, the iPad mini 7 is the only device that will get you Apple Intelligence features at a price below the $500 mark. The device retails for $499.99, but it will be offered at hefty discounts in the forthcoming holiday season, shedding as much as a $50 to $100 off the original price. Henceforth, it is one of the better options if you want to step into Apple's AI ecosystem and to be fair, the A17 Pro chip is plenty fast to cover your daily tasks and even high-end games. Is Apple Intelligence worth a decision to upgrade from the iPad mini 6 to the iPad mini 7?

Apple's new iPad mini 7 looks the same as before, but it has AI smarts

After three years of waiting, Apple has finally updated the iPad mini, bringing it to its seventh iteration. The new iPad mini looks the same as before (though it does come in two new colors, blue and purple), with its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display surrounded by bezels of equal width on all sides. Inside, however, a lot has changed. The new iPad mini is powered by Apple's A17 Pro chip (that's the one from Apple's iPhone 15 Pro), and comes with 128/256/512GB of storage memory, doubling the starting storage from previous generation. The more powerful chip will make the new iPad mini better at running demanding, new games, but it also brings support for Apple Intelligence, with features such as AI-powered Writing Tools, photo Memories, Image Playground, and a smarter, more integrated Siri. The AI features will be available this month, when iPadOS 18.1 becomes widely available; you can check out our overview of some features that are available in beta right now. The 12-megapixel camera on the back supports Smart HDR 4, and there's also a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera on the front. The iPad mini now comes with Wi-Fi 6E support for faster connectivity, as well as Apple Pencil Pro support (available separately). Some of the old colors are gone, so you now have four choices total: blue, purple, starlight, and space gray. Apple's iPad mini starts at $499 for the Wi-Fi model, and $649 if you want cellular connectivity.

The iPad mini 7 is now the cheapest way to get Apple Intelligence - here's why it could be the best too

Apple's formally announced the new iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence compatibility. As an iPad mini fan since the original first launched in 2012, the tiny tablet has a soft spot in my heart, and this new model could have one in yours, too. Up until today, the M2 Mac mini was the cheapest way to try Apple Intelligence, but it's not portable and needs extra peripherals to use, which ramps up the price. Mac mini aside, the iPhone 16 was the next cheapest entry point into the world of Apple Intelligence, but that device starts at $799 / £799. Now, that's all changed with Apple's iPad mini announcement; the new tablet brings everything Apple Intelligence offers, starting from $499/£499 for the 128GB model. This means the new iPad mini is the cheapest entry point for those looking to try Apple Intelligence, almost a system seller in itself. I've been using Apple Intelligence on the iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 betas since Apple first announced the AI features in June, and I've been scratching my head at the price of entry since. To use Apple Intelligence on an iPhone you need one of the best iPhones from the iPhone 16 lineup or the previous flagship iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max models, none of these smartphones are cheap, however, and even iPhone 15 owners are left in an AI-less past. On the iPad side, until today's announcement, you needed an M-series iPad, with the lowest price offering being the M2 iPad Air for $549/£549, a much lower entry point to Apple Intelligence compared to the iPhone but still above that $500 mark. With the arrival of a sub-$500 iPad mini capable of Apple Intelligence, there's now an accessible entry point for anyone who wants to give Apple's AI tools a go without forking out for a more expensive product. Yes, that's only $50 less than the Air, but $50 matters, especially when you're not sure you'll even use the AI features you're upgrading for. Since Apple Intelligence's reveal at WWDC, I've thought that the software's success will be based on how many people actually use it, and one of the biggest reasons people won't be using Apple Intelligence is because of the initial cost of upgrading to a compatible device. Apple's strategy with the new iPad mini could work out massively in the company's favor as people opt for the small tablet as a first exposure to Apple Intelligence before forking out on a new iPhone or iPad in the future. My partner is a great example of this; she owns the iPhone 15 and was left disappointed when she found out that her not-even one-year-old device wouldn't be compatible with the next evolution of Apple software. She's not in the market for a new iPhone at the moment and Apple Intelligence hasn't even been released yet, and she's not sure she'll even use it. Still, an iPad mini with Apple Intelligence functionality could work as a gateway to seeing what Apple AI is capable of. She won't be the only one tempted to try the iPad mini to get cheaper access to Apple Intelligence, and if those consumers are impressed, they might be first in line for the iPhone 17, unable to live without an Apple Intelligence-compatible smartphone.

Apple just announced a new iPad mini. Here are all the big upgrades | Digital Trends

Apple has announced an all-new iPad mini. This seventh-generation model, which has long been anticipated, features an A17 Pro chip designed to support Apple Intelligence. Visually, it looks just like the last iPad mini, but there are some key upgrades under the hood. The A17 Pro chip, also found on the iPhone 15 Pro series, features a 6-core CPU that delivers 30% better CPU performance than the previous model. Its 5-core GPU also offers improved graphics performance. In addition to an A17 Pro chip, the 2024 iPad mini features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, a 12MP primary camera, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. Recommended Videos In announcing the iPad mini (A17 Pro), Bob Borchers, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, explains: "There is no other device in the world like the iPad mini, beloved for its combination of powerful performance and versatility in our most ultraportable design. iPad mini appeals to a wide range of users and has been built for Apple Intelligence, delivering intelligent new features that are powerful, personal, and private. With the powerful A17 Pro chip, faster connectivity, and support for Apple Pencil Pro, the new iPad mini delivers the full iPad experience in our most portable design at an incredible value." Starting at $499, the new iPad mini is available for preorder in blue, space gray, purple, and starlight. It comes with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB and is available in Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + Cellular versions. The tablet officially launches in 29 countries and regions on Wednesday, October 23. The starting storage is noteworthy, as it's double the 64GB previously offered for the last iPad mini model. The first Apple Intelligence components are expected to launch through a software update before the end of the month. The iPad mini 7 will join iPads with an M1 chip or later as supporting Apple's AI features.

Apple Announces iPad mini 7 With Apple Intelligence Support, A17 Pro Chip With 30 Percent Performance Gains, And Double The Storage At The Same Price Tag

Today, Apple has seen fit to announce its latest iPad mini 7, which comes with most of the bells and whistles that make the iPad great. Apple is gradually working to offer Apple Intelligence on all of its products, and the new iPad mini 7 is part of the company's plans to bolster AI features. We were expecting the upgrade to arrive on November 1, but the company saw fit to launch the device early. The iPad mini 7 features the same design as its predecessor, and it is not a bad thing, per se, as it is only the second generation of the redesign, and it checks all the boxes of a premium model. If you were waiting to get a new iPad, the mini 7 might be the way to go for the features it brings to the table, including the new Apple Intelligence features. The device features the same 8.3-inch LCD display with minimal bezels all around, making the device a perfectly sized device for many users. It also supports Apple Pencil Pro, which is a major addition for artists and designers who wish to use an iPad with a smaller display. It comes with a USB-C port and an upgraded camera 12MP camera with support for Smart HDR 4. As for the internals, the iPad mini 7 launch brings the A17 Pro chip, which is perfectly capable of handling the new features in iPadOS 18, including Apple Intelligence, which will be the flagship bunch of new features for the mini iPad. These features include writing tools, image generation, and enhanced task automation. The system is plenty powerful for handling on-device and cloud-based processing. These features will be available with the release of iPadOS 18.1 and later versions. Other internal upgrades support WiFi 6E and the A17 Pro chip will also bring a 30 percent boost in computational performance and 25 percent improved graphical performance, compared to the previous version, The performance is one of the major aspects why the iPad mini 7 is a worthy upgrade over the previous version. You can check out all the color options below. If you are interested in getting your hands on the device, it is available for pre-order starting today in four distinct colors, including the new blue and purple options. The iPad mini 7 is priced at $499 for the 128GB variant, which means that the company has doubled the storage from the previous version. The WiFi + cellular version is available for $649, with the option to bump up the storage to 256GB and 512GB. You can also pair the new iPad mini 7 with the Smart Folio, which goes for $59. We will share additional details on the new iPad, so be sure to keep an eye out.

iPad Mini 6 vs. iPad Mini 7 Buyer's Guide: 20 Upgrades Compared

At the core of the new device is the A17 Pro chip, first introduced last year in the iPhone 15 Pro, which delivers faster CPU and GPU performance along with advanced graphics features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing. One of the most important additions is support for Apple Intelligence, unlocking new AI-driven features that could dramatically improve user experience. It's also worth noting that the device now starts with 128GB of storage, double the previous base capacity, with no increase in price. The seventh-generation iPad mini also boasts a faster USB-C port for quicker data transfers, Smart HDR 4 for better photo quality, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro with hover functionality for greater precision. A new Blue color also replaces Pink in the lineup. All of the differences between the sixth- and seventh-generation iPad mini models are listed below: The seventh-generation iPad mini offers several noteworthy upgrades, but whether you should buy the new model depends on your specific needs and how you plan to use your device. The most significant change is the move to the A17 Pro chip, which brings a notable performance boost across the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine. This improvement is important for power users who rely on their iPad for demanding tasks such as creative work or intensive multitasking. The addition of hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading also enhances graphics performance, which is ideal for mobile gamers. Apple Intelligence support is another major feature that introduces a wide array of AI functionalities such as notification summaries, writing tools, image and emoji generation, and a revamped version of Siri that integrates ChatGPT and on-screen awareness and the ability to take action. This could be transformative for those who use their iPad for productivity. The seventh-generation iPad mini also gains Apple Pencil hover and Apple Pencil Pro support, offering more precise control for drawing, writing, and graphic design. These upgrades make the new iPad mini particularly attractive for artists and professionals who use the Apple Pencil extensively. The new USB-C 3.0 port offers twice the data transfer speed of the sixth-generation iPad mini, making it a meaningful upgrade for users who frequently transfer large files between devices. The improved Smart HDR 4 for photos and new True Tone flash enhances camera performance. While not revolutionary, it's a good improvement for those who use their iPad mini for photography and document scanning. Finally, the fresh Blue color adds a subtle aesthetic update, but of course, this is a matter of personal preference. If you're a power user -- someone who relies on their iPad for heavy multitasking, professional work with the Apple Pencil, or intensive graphics and gaming -- the seventh-generation iPad mini's improvements in speed, Apple Intelligence support, and Pencil support could make a noticeable difference to your workflow and justify an upgrade. For users intending to use their iPad mini for browsing, light productivity, streaming, and casual gaming, the improvements in the seventh generation may not feel as impactful. The core experience of iPadOS and apps will remain largely the same, with only moderate gains in speed and efficiency. If the sixth-generation iPad mini still handles all your needs -- especially if you don't push it to its performance limits -- the improvements in the seventh generation might not feel essential. The A15 Bionic chip is still more than capable for everyday tasks, and unless you require faster data transfers, better Apple Pencil control, or Apple Intelligence for productivity, the new features may not justify the cost of upgrading. If you are one of these users and you do not currently own an iPad mini, it may be worth picking up a now-discontinued sixth-generation model for a heavily discounted price.

Apple's October surprise: New iPad Mini 7 features, price, availability, and more

Apple low-key launched a new iPad Mini and it's actually pretty impressive. Apple just shocked iPad fanatics by launching a new iPad Mini generation, which opened for pre-orders today. Most of us expected Apple to hold a quick but elaborate October event, like last year, to announce the new and improved iPad Mini. Instead, Apple took a low-key approach, releasing an understated press release at the beginning of the workday. The new iPad Mini features an A17 Pro chip, making it 30% faster in CPU tasks and 25% faster in graphics than the previous model. The more advanced processor, which also powers the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, improves efficiency and supports Apple Intelligence, the company's artificial intelligence features that provide personalized generative AI across apps. Though the iPad Mini can support Apple Intelligence features, including text generation, document analysis, deeper and improved Siri integrations, and image creation, most won't be available for months. Also: Save $1,000 versus iPad Pro with this iPad and keyboard case combo Apple has been working on its generative AI tools for some months but has fallen considerably behind competitors, including Samsung and Google, which have both successfully integrated generative AI into their smartphone lineups, the Galaxy and Pixel, respectively. Though some Apple Intelligence features will be available this fall in beta with the general release of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, most will take months to come to compatible devices. The new iPad Mini will be compatible with Apple Intelligence, joining the rest of Apple's compatible devices: the iPhone 16 lineup, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPads and iMacs with M1 processors or newer. In addition to more advanced AI support than the previous generation, the 2024 iPad Mini's A17 Pro chip can handle more demanding tasks, including augmented reality (AR) applications, photo editing, and gaming with hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Also: The Apple Pencil Pro just dropped in price again, just days after Prime Day Apple also announced the iPad Mini features Wi-Fi 6E support for faster connections at "twice the performance than the previous generation," 5G support, 12MP cameras with Smart HDR 4, and improved USB-C for faster data transfers. The iPad Mini now also supports the Apple Pencil Pro, which has the newer squeeze functionality to switch tools, colors, and more without interrupting workflow, haptic feedback, barrel rolling, and the hover feature to preview strokes. The Apple Pencil Pro also supports the Find My network, letting you easily find your lost stylus through the Find My app, like you can with an AirTag or pair of AirPods. Also: The best iPad keyboard cases of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed The iPad Mini starts at $499 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model and $649 for the Wi-Fi+Cellular model. It is available for pre-order in four finishes: Blue, Starlight, Space Gray, and Purple, with orders shipping on October 23.

Apple Reveals New iPad mini Ahead Of Apple Intelligence Launch

The new iPad mini, like other Apple devices supported by the A17 Pro or newer chips, will support Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI features powered by custom generative models running on device or in the cloud that is set to debut in beta later this month. Apple has revealed a new iPad mini that will support the company's forthcoming Apple Intelligence features and use the same A17 Pro chip as last year's iPhone 15 Pro models. With availability set to begin a week from Wednesday and a starting price of $499, the new iPad mini, unveiled Tuesday, is expected to deliver a 30 percent boost in CPU performance, a 25 percent increase in graphics performance and a neural engine that is two times faster compared with the A15 Bionic-powered model that launched in 2021, according to Apple. [Related: AMD: Ryzen AI Pro 300 Series Is The 'Best AI PC Platform' For Businesses] Apple said the new iPad mini, like other Apple devices supported by the A17 Pro or newer chips, will support Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI features powered by custom generative models running on device or in the cloud that is set to debut in beta with a subset of those features later this month. The company did not specify a date for the features. Apple Intelligence will be deeply integrated within iPadOS 18, which debuted earlier this month, and features will range from a Writing Tool and a new Focus mode to an updated version of Siri, which can be prompted via text or voice to perform various actions. Promising "all-day battery life," Apple said the new iPad mini features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, adds support for the Apple Pencil Pro to enable new experiences and doubles the base storage to 128 GB from the previous generation. The tablet's 12-megapixel-wide back camera supports the Smart HDR 4 color format for "natural-looking photos with increased dynamic range" and machine learning to "detect and scan documents right in the Camera app," according to the company. The new iPad mini supports Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, allowing it to provide up to twice the connection speed of the previous generation, and Apple plans to sell a model that will also support cellular connections, including 5G. The tablet's USB-C port is as much as two times faster than the previous generation, enabling data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps. New features in iPadOS 18 include support for Apple Pencil to solve mathematical expressions in the Calculator and Math Notes apps, improved legibility for handwritten notes and the ability to edit handwritten notes in the Notes app, audio recording and transcription, the ability to schedule text messages in the Messages app, and a redesigned Control Center. "iPad mini appeals to a wide range of users and has been built for Apple Intelligence, delivering intelligent new features that are powerful, personal and private," said Bob Borchers, Apple's vice president of worldwide product marketing, in a statement. "With the powerful A17 Pro chip, faster connectivity and support for Apple Pencil Pro, the new iPad mini delivers the full iPad experience in our most portable design at an incredible value."

Apple introduces updated iPad mini with A17 Pro and Apple Intelligence, starting at $499

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. What just happened? Apple has introduced an updated version of the iPad mini powered by the A18 Pro, the same chip found in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. While it is not the latest SoC from Cupertino, the year-old SoC will be fast enough to power Apple Intelligence starting later this month. The new Apple iPad mini features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display - an LED backlit multi-touch screen with IPS technology that operates at a resolution of 2,266 x 1,488 (326 PPI). It boasts 500 nits of brightness and supports Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro. The A17 Pro consists of two performance cores and four efficiency cores. According to Apple, the chip delivers a 30 percent boost in CPU performance compared to the A15 Bionic found in the previous generation iPad mini. The A17 Pro's five-core GPU, meanwhile, is said to offer a 25 percent jump in graphics performance. Apple Intelligence on the iPad mini will afford writing and image creation tools, and it can even take action across apps to accelerate everyday tasks. Much of the processing for Apple Intelligence happens locally on-device, although it can also tap into more powerful models that run on dedicated Apple servers in the cloud. The new iPad mini will ship running iPadOS 18. Apple said the first set of AI features will be available via a free software update with iPadOS 18.1 due out this month. Other noteworthy features include support for Wi-Fi 6E, a faster USB-C port that supports data transfers up to 10Gbps, and a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera with Smart HDR 4. Battery life from the 19.3Wh unit is rated at up to 10 hours of web surfing / video consumption. The 7th generation iPad mini is available to order now starting at $499 for the Wi-Fi model with 128 GB of storage and topping out at $949 for a cellular variant with 512 GB of onboard storage. Look for it to ship / hit retail on October 23.

Apple Mini Gets An AI Upgrade 3 Years After Last Facelift -- Price Starts At $499 - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Apple Inc. AAPL on Tuesday unveiled the upgraded version of its iPad Mini, marking the first significant upgrade to the compact tablet since 2021. What Happened: The revamped iPad Mini is now open for pre-orders and is set to be available in the market from next Wednesday, Oct. 23. The device has a starting price of $499 for the Wi-Fi model and $649 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. It is equipped with a new A17 Pro chip, offering a 30% faster CPU and a 25% faster GPU. The Neural Engine of the device is also twice as fast as its predecessor. The updated Mini is compatible with the new Apple Pencil Pro and provides a base storage of 128GB, a substantial upgrade from the previous 64GB. See Also: 'Can't Believe It:' Popular YouTuber Shares How Apple Watch Series 10 Detected Atrial Fibrillation And Saved His Grandmother The device also includes a faster Wi-Fi 6E chip and a quicker USB-C port. The only design modification is the addition of new purple and blue models. Apple's focus on AI and Apple Intelligence is reflected in this upgrade, with the company stating that the new device can execute hardware-accelerated ray tracing, potentially improving the appearance of high-end games. Apple's first batch of Apple Intelligence features is set to roll out in U.S. English later this month via a free software update with iPadOS 18.1. These features will be available on iPads equipped with the A17 Pro or M1 chips and newer models. Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox. Why It Matters: Earlier this year, Apple refreshed the rest of its iPad lineup, including the Air and Pro models, and lowered the price of the base model to $349. This launch also comes after speculations about the imminent launch of new models due to inventory shortages of several Apple products. Previously, it was reported that Apple could unveil its first M4-powered Macs on Nov. 1. The anticipated lineup includes a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the standard M4 chip, as well as higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros featuring the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. Cupertino might also release a refreshed iMac with the M4 chip and an updated Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro options. Looking ahead to early next year, Apple could introduce 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with M4, a new iPhone SE, 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Airs, new Magic Keyboards for the iPad Air, and a refreshed AirTag. Mac Studio and Mac Pro models with M4 chips are also in the works, with the Mac Studio likely arriving in mid-2025, followed by the Mac Pro later that year. Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by following this link. Read Next: Apple's iPhone 16 Powers Record Sales In Q3, Just Behind Samsung In Global Market Share Battle Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Apple iPad Mini 2024 launched with A17 Pro chip, AI features: Check India price, features, availability

Apple has launched the iPad Mini 2024 in India, featuring the powerful A17 Pro chip and starting at Rs 49,900 for the Wi-Fi model. The compact tablet boasts an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, double the base storage at 128GB, and improved performance with faster CPU and GPU speeds. It supports Apple Pencil, AI capabilities under Apple Intelligence, and features enhanced 12MP rear and front cameras with Smart HDR 4. Pre-orders are open, with sales beginning on October 23.Apple has officially introduced its latest iPad Mini (2024) to the Indian market, offering a significant upgrade over its predecessor, which launched in 2021. The new iPad Mini is powered by the A17 Pro chipset, bringing enhanced performance, AI capabilities, and expanded storage. Here's a detailed breakdown of what this compact powerhouse has to offer. The iPad Mini (2024) is available for pre-order starting today, with official sales kicking off on October 23. The Wi-Fi-only model is priced at Rs 49,900, while the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant starts at Rs 64,900. The device is available in four colour options: blue, purple, starlight, and space grey. Apple has also announced special pricing for students and educators, making the device even more accessible. The new iPad Mini features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 1,488 x 2,266 pixels. The display, while not boasting a 120Hz refresh rate like the Pro models, still operates at a smooth 60Hz, making it ideal for everyday tasks and media consumption. Under the hood, the A17 Pro chip, which debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro series, powers the device. This chipset offers a 30% faster CPU and a 25% faster GPU compared to the previous iPad Mini, enabling the tablet to handle demanding tasks such as photo editing, gaming with ray tracing, and augmented reality (AR) applications. "The A17 Pro chip delivers a huge leap in performance, making the iPad Mini a perfect balance of power and portability," said Bob Borchers, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. One of the standout features of the new iPad Mini is its support for Apple Intelligence, which comes with iPadOS 18.1. With the powerful Neural Engine, the device can leverage AI to summarise and proofread text, transform sketches into polished images, and enhance Siri's ability to follow context across multiple commands. Photography enthusiasts will be pleased with the camera system, which includes a 12MP rear camera with Smart HDR 4, and a 12MP ultra-wide front camera with Center Stage, a feature that automatically keeps the subject in focus during video calls. The iPad Mini also supports Wi-Fi 6E, offering faster download speeds and smoother streaming, while the USB-C port now allows for high-speed data transfers of up to 10GB per second. Cellular models include 5G connectivity with eSIM support, ensuring that users stay connected even on the go. Apple claims that the iPad Mini provides up to 10 hours of battery life when browsing or streaming over Wi-Fi. The device comes bundled with a 20W USB-C power adapter, making charging fast and convenient. For creative users, the new iPad Mini supports the Apple Pencil Pro, which can be purchased separately for Rs 11,900. The Apple Pencil with USB-C is also available for Rs 7,900. Apple's Smart Folio case, priced at $59, provides additional protection while maintaining the tablet's sleek form.

First iPad mini update since 2021 gets a faster chip and Apple Intelligence

The 7th-gen iPad mini includes an A17 Pro chip and works with the Apple Pencil Pro. Credit: Apple Apple quietly announced a new version of its iPad mini tablet via press release this morning, the tablet's first update since 2021. The seventh-generation iPad mini looks mostly identical to the sixth-generation version, with a power-button-mounted Touch ID sensor and a slim-bezeled display. But Apple has swapped out the A15 Bionic chip for the Apple A17 Pro, the same processor it used in the iPhone 15 Pro last year. The new iPad mini is available for preorder now and starts at $499 for 128GB (an upgrade over the previous base model's 64GB of storage). 256GB and 512GB versions are available for $599 and $799, and cellular connectivity is an additional $150 on top of any of those prices. Apple says the A17 Pro's CPU performance is 30 percent faster than the A15's and that its GPU performance is 25 percent faster (in addition to supporting hardware-accelerated ray tracing). But the biggest improvement will be an increase in RAM -- the A17 Pro comes with 8GB instead of the A15's 4GB, which appears to be Apple's floor for the new Apple Intelligence AI features. The new iPad mini will be the only iPad mini capable of supporting Apple Intelligence, which will begin rolling out with the iPadOS 18.1 update within the next few weeks.

Apple Launches New iPad Mini 7 with Apple Intelligence

Available in four stunning colors starting at US$499. Pre-order today for delivery on October 23, 2024 Apple has introduced the iPad Mini 7, powered by the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence, a personal intelligence system that provides relevant insights while maintaining user privacy. The new iPad Mini retains its ultraportable design and comes in four stunning colors -- blue, purple, starlight, and space gray. It features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and offers exceptional performance for demanding tasks, including creative work, gaming, and multitasking. The A17 Pro chip delivers a significant performance boost with faster CPU and GPU speeds. A 2x faster Neural Engine enhances AI capabilities, powering Apple Intelligence to improve productivity and simplify tasks. With Apple Pencil Pro support, the iPad Mini unlocks new levels of creativity and precision. The 12MP rear camera offers Smart HDR 4 and uses AI to scan documents instantly. The all-day battery life ensures users stay connected and productive. The iPad Mini 7 starts at US$499 with 128GB of storage, doubling the storage of the previous generation. Pre-orders are available now, with shipping beginning October 23.

Apple launches new iPad mini with AI features

Oct 15 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab on Tuesday launched its new generation of the iPad mini packed with AI features including writing tools and an improved Siri assistant, as the iPhone maker races to boost its devices with artificial-intelligence capabilities. The new iPad mini is powered by Apple's A17 Pro chip, which is used in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models. With a six-core central processing unit, the A17 Pro would boost CPU performance by 30% compared to the current generation iPad minis and is central to running Apple Intelligence, Apple's AI software. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Apple said it would roll out the first set of AI features in the U.S. version of the English language this month through a software update with iPadOS 18.1. The features will be available for iPads with A17 Pro or M1 chips and later generations, Apple said, adding it will roll out additional features including image-generation tools, Genmoji and ChatGPT-powered capabilities over the next several months. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Apple in September unveiled its long-awaited, AI-boosted iPhone 16 lineup, but with the AI features still in test mode, the company failed to excite some investors while early sales data raised some questions around demand. Still, research firm Canalys on Monday said the iPhone 16 would help Apple's sales in the fourth quarter and drive momentum into the first half of 2025, after Apple reached a record high third-quarter shipments. The iPad mini, starting at $499, is available for pre-orders starting on Tuesday and will begin arriving to customers and Apple store locations next week, Apple said. Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Apple's New iPad Mini Has A17 Pro Chip, Apple Intelligence

The new iPad mini comes in four color options. It contains Apple's A17 Pro chip, which has a six-core CPU and five-core GPU that promises to make it faster than the previous iPad mini model. It'll also support hardware-accelerated ray tracing for gaming. But the A17 isn't Apple's newest chip -- the iPhone 16 Pro has an A18 Pro chip, and last year's iPhone 15 Pro has the A17 Pro. The new iPad mini supports Wi-Fi 6E connections and can connect to 5G networks. Cellular versions use an eSIM instead of a physical SIM card. The tablet also comes with a USB-C port and a 12MP back camera. It'll come preloaded with iPadOS 18, which contains a slew of AI features and an upgraded Siri. Using Apple Intelligence, the new iPad mini has writing assistance tools, a Memories feature that lets users generate videos, and a Clean Up tool that can remove distractions in photos. The new operating system supports the Apple Pencil Pro and comes with a new way to do math by writing with Math Notes, an upgraded way to record voice notes, and a more customizable home screen. Apple's Photos, Messages, and Notes apps also get big updates as well. Apple says its upcoming Image Playground, Image Wand, and "Genmoji" features -- as well as its ChatGPT integration -- will launch for the new iPad mini as well as compatible iPhones in the coming months. The tablet comes with 128GB of storage and costs $499. It's available for preorder now, and will fully launch later this month on Oct. 23.

The New iPad Mini Is Here -- And So Are Deals on Earlier Generations

The Audiobook of Lisa Marie Presley's Memoir, Narrated by Julia Roberts, Is Now the Bestseller on Audible If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. Apple announced a new iPad Mini today, refreshing the iPad Mini line for the first time since 2021. The new iPad features an A17 Pro chip, which is the same chip used in last year's iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models. The new iPad Mini is compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro and has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display. It's available to pre-order now and will be available to buy on Oct. 23. The biggest addition to the iPad Mini is Apple Intelligence, the Cupertino company's take on AI which includes new writing tools for productivity and the ability to create custom avatars, which Apple calls Genmojis. Apple announced that Apple Intelligence would be available on the iPhone 16 at its September "Glowtime" event. Apple Intelligence was not ready by the time the new iPhone started shipping out, but Apple has said it will be available on iOs 18 later this month. Apple Intelligence will roll out the iPad Mini later. Related: This Simple Hack Gets You AirTags for Way Cheaper Than Apple's Own Site The iPad Mini marks the third new iPad release this year, following the iPad Air and the iPad Pro, which were unveiled in May. The 10th generation iPad was released in 2022. The iPad Mini will retail for $499, which is half the price of the iPad Pro, and the palm-sized tablet has been an enduringly popular option for users who prize portability over power. In addition to iOS 18, the iPad Mini is getting other upgrades, including 128GB of storage, which is double the storage of the previous generation. Given Apple's (somewhat grudging) transition to USB-C, the new iPad Mini will also feature a USB-C port, like the previous generation. The USB-C port has been upgraded with data transfers up to 10Gbps, making it a good option for people who use their iPad to store photos and videos. As is typical with the release of new tech, the announcement of the iPad Mini brought discounts to earlier iPad generations, including the iPad 9 and 10. You can check out the deals below, including savings of up to $100.