Apple has announced yet another addition to its family of gadgets: an updated version of its popular iPad Mini. This is the first time in three years that the device has been significantly upgraded. This device features a faster A17 Pro chip, more storage, Apple Intelligence, and more.
“There’s no other device in the world like iPad mini. iPad mini is loved for combining powerful performance and versatility with the most portable design. iPad mini appeals to a wide range of users. “It’s built for Apple Intelligence, delivering powerful new intelligent capabilities that are personal and private,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of worldwide product marketing.
“With the powerful A17 Pro chip, faster connectivity, and support for Apple Pencil Pro, the new iPad mini delivers the complete iPad experience in our most portable design at an incredible value.” he added. There are also new color options. Users can purchase the latest Mini in muted blue or purple. The front camera remains in portrait mode, while the rear camera is a 12MP wide-angle lens with Smart HDR 4.
The A17 Pro chip is no stranger to Apple devices, as it’s also found in the company’s iPhone 15 Pro series. According to Apple, this chip offers 30% more six-core CPU performance and 25% more GPU performance compared to the A15 Bionic chip. Additionally, it has a faster Neural Engine to power AI-focused features like improved Siri responses.
Another feature you can take advantage of with the A17 Pro is Apple Intelligence, the company’s suite of AI-powered tools and features. This isn’t surprising considering Apple is fully committed to AI across its product lineup. The company says the first set of Apple Intelligence features will be available in US English later this month, and as such will continue to be integrated into iPadOS 18. With a new, more powerful chip, Apple Intelligence leverages generative AI models to deliver improved writing tools, generate images from text-based prompts, and provide enhanced task automation.
Storage has always been a concern for many iPad Mini users, and the new iPad Mini seems to have the answer. For the new device, Apple is doubling the base storage to 128GB and also offering 256GB and 512GB storage configurations for interested users. This device not only supports Wi-Fi 6E and offers faster internet speeds, but also a faster USB-C port for faster data transfer speeds reaching up to 10 Gbps. Additionally, the new iPad Mini also comes with support for the new Apple Pencil Pro with features like pressure sensitivity, gesture control, haptic feedback, and a magnetic charging area on the side of the Mini for charging.
Interested users can pre-order the new iPad Mini, with shipping starting next week on October 23rd. Device prices start at $499 for the Wi-Fi only version with 128GB of storage, and $499 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. $649.
