The iPad mini has always been a bit of a curiosity. The display is only 8.3 inches in diameter. barely bigger than some best phablet. However, its small size and light weight make it one of the favorites for some people. Best tablet for photo editing.
However, there are rumors that it is not selling very well. As such, there is often speculation that Apple will discontinue it completely. And that speculation reached a fever pitch earlier this year when new versions of the iPad Air and iPad Pro were announced, nicely powered by the advanced M2 chip, but there was no mention of a new iPad mini.
So this week, the world was surprised to learn that Apple unexpectedly announced the new iPad mini, the first update to its smallest tablet since 2021.
And when I say “fell,” that’s exactly what I mean. Instead of the big, splashy announcements we’re used to seeing from Apple, they actually announced this new iPad mini very quietly and quietly. No teasers, no high-tech YouTube Live launches…just a press release.
As you can see from this modest approach, this is certainly not a huge update. However, processing power and camera technology have improved significantly. So if you’re looking to buy a new iPad and aren’t sure which model to buy, it’s worth knowing what’s different about it.
Faster processor and more RAM
A new AI feature called Image Playground makes it easy to generate images from prompts (Image source: Apple)
The new iPad mini looks the same as the previous iPad mini, except for a few new options. So the differences are all internal.
The biggest part is that the processor has been updated from the A15 to the A17 Pro chip, and the RAM has been increased accordingly from 4GB to 8GB. Apple says this new hardware delivers 30% faster CPU performance, 25% faster GPU performance, and twice the Neural Engine speed than the previous generation.
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Why do we need faster processors? One word: AI. Apple plans to roll out its highly anticipated AI platform, Apple Intelligence, in the coming weeks with the iPadOS 18.1 update. And it’s clearly stated that this processor update is meant to allow it to work with the new Mac mini as well. That all sounds great, but since iPadOS 18.1 isn’t actually here yet, we can’t say much about it at this stage.
better camera technology
The new iPad mini looks the same as its predecessor, but it’s faster. (Image source: Apple)
This is a world of digital cameras, so of course I have to mention cameras. Admittedly, very few people use an iPad to take photos. But it’s good to have a decent tablet camera, even if it’s just for things like scanning documents or QR codes.
To be clear, the 12MP rear camera and 12MP ultra-wide front camera aren’t actually upgraded from the previous model. However, the software that runs them is have It has received a major upgrade.
For example, Smart HDR 4 is now available, which takes advantage of the iPad’s increased processing power to capture wider dynamic range images. This should, at least in theory, result in more natural-looking photos under different lighting conditions.
There’s also a feature Apple charmingly calls AI-powered document scanning. This means that by taking advantage of iPad mini’s new 16-core neural engine, the camera app can automatically detect and optimize document capture within the frame.
Third, the new iPad mini will have True Tone Flash. This is a new feature aimed at reducing shadows when photographing documents and objects in dark locations. Of course, it depends on how well it works, but this seems like the most useful feature of all.
Further updates
The A17 Pro chip helps graphics-intensive AAA games like Zenless Zone Zero run faster. (Image source: Apple)
Other changes from the previous model include:
With twice the speed of its predecessor (up to 10Gbps), the USB-C port lets you quickly transfer large photo and video files.
Supports Wi-Fi 6E and 5G on cellular models for faster wireless connectivity
Base storage increased to 128 GB (up from 64 GB) to accommodate larger image files and AI models
New purple and blue finishes
If you want to use your iPad as a drawing tablet or use a stylus for photo editing, you should also note that the new iPad mini supports Apple Pencil Pro in addition to Apple Pencil (USB-C). However, 1st or 2nd generation Apple Pencils are not supported.
Want to buy? The new iPad mini starts at $499 for the Wi-Fi model with 128GB of storage. There are also 256GB and 512GB versions priced at $599/£599 and $799/£799 respectively. Mobile phone connectivity costs an additional $150/£150 on top of these prices. The 2024 iPad mini is available for pre-order now and will be in stores starting Wednesday, October 23rd.
