Apple’s new iPad mini with Apple Intelligence support is now on sale. Announced on October 15th, the iPad mini 7 sports an A17 Pro chip.
Despite Apple Intelligence being a key highlight, the new iPad mini will launch with iPadOS 18, meaning buyers must wait a few days to get the new AI-powered features.
Same design, faster internals
The iPad mini 7 arrives three years after the launch of its predecessor. The 2021 iPad mini 6 featured a radical new design and a bigger 8.3-inch display. In comparison, the 2024 model packs modest changes, with Apple only upgrading its internals for Apple Intelligence support.
The biggest change is the switch to an A17 Pro chip, the one found inside the iPhone 15 Pro lineup. It brings a 30% boost in CPU performance and a 25% uplift in GPU performance. The upgraded Neural Engine also boasts of double the performance. However, this is a lower-binned version with one less GPU core. Still, Apple also doubled the RAM to 8GB and boosted the base storage to 128GB.
Other specs remain unchanged, including a 12MP rear camera and a 12MP Ultra Wide Front Camera with support for Center Stage, Touch ID and landscape-oriented stereo speakers. The only other notable upgrade is Apple Pencil Pro support.
You can go through our iPad mini 7 vs. iPad mini 6 comparison to know how Apple’s newest mini iPad is better than its predecessor.
Initial reviews point to the iPad mini 7 being better in small ways. More importantly, Apple’s newest iPad does not suffer from the same jelly scrolling problem as the previous version.
Get more for your money
Despite the minor internal upgrades and double the base storage, the iPad mini 7’s starting price remains unchanged. The Wi-Fi variant costs $499, while the 5G model starts at $649.
Buy it from: Apple
If you pre-ordered the iPad mini 7, it should arrive at your doorstep today. Alternatively, you can pick one up at your nearest Apple store or authorized retailer. Once you get your hands on the tablet, make sure to install an important day-one update on it.
Via: Apple