intro
Apple has announced the new iPad mini. It should have been called the iPad mini 7th generation, but Apple being Apple, the new tablet is actually called the iPad mini A17 Pro.
Spoiler alert, the new chipset is one of the few upgrades from the previous generation, but it’s a pretty decent spec bump that not only makes the iPad mini faster by all current standards, but also makes it faster than the artificial future-proof with advanced features. With intelligence in mind – The new iPad mini supports Apple Intelligence, coming soon to all eligible iPhones.
Explaining the differences between iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad mini 6th generation:
| iPad mini (A17 Pro) | iPad mini 6th generation |
|---|---|
| 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display | Same 8.3 inch screen |
| Apple A17 Pro chipset, 8GB RAM | Apple A15 chip and 4GB of RAM |
| Apple intelligence support | No Apple Intelligence support |
| Wi-Fi 6E support (lower latency than Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6 support, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| eSIM only | Nano-SIM + eSIM support |
| Supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil with USB-C, supports Apple Pencil hover | Supports Apple Pencil 2nd generation and Apple Pencil with USB-C, no Apple Pencil hover |
| 128GB, 256GB, 512GB storage versions | 64GB and 256GB versions |
| New colors: space gray, blue, purple, starlight | Space gray, pink, purple, starlight color |
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Design and display quality
If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all
Since the new iPad mini is primarily a hardware refresh, the slate design remains the same compared to the previous generation. The same nearly compact aluminum build with thick bezels is common to both tablets, with the unmistakable iPad style that’s pretty well known at this point.
Both tablets have the same dimensions: 195.4 mm height, 134.8 mm width, and 6.3 mm depth. The Wi-Fi version weighs 293 grams each, and the cellular version weighs 297 grams. It’s quite compact for an 8.3 inch tablet.
Apple has changed its color selection. The new model is available in Space Gray, Blue, Purple, and Starlight colors, while the older model is available in Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight. It’s a pretty decent choice, allowing you to choose a more subdued, business-like shade, or express yourself with something a little more vibrant.
Both of these tablets have Touch ID embedded in the top power button. Both iPad mini with A17 Pro and iPad mini 6th generation include USB-C.
As mentioned earlier, the display is the same on both. 8.3-inch Liquid Retina screen. It lacks ProMotion and only has a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz, but this one at least has P3 wide color gamut support, True Tone, and anti-reflection. While the coating can’t compete with the mini-LED or OLED screens on higher-tier iPads, it’s still a pretty decent LCD screen that pairs well with the lower tiers of the iPad mini lineup.
Performance and software
Main improvements
Unlike the premium iPad, which has a chipset (Apple M4) not yet used in the MacBook lineup, the iPad mini has always relied on the iPhone’s chipset. The new tablet is no different.
The good news is that while the old tablets were only available in 64 GB and 256 GB, the new tablets are available in 128, 256, or 512 GB.
In terms of features, the new iPad mini supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil with USB-C. Apple Pencil 2nd generation is not supported on iPad mini (A17 Pro). However, the older iPad mini 6th generation supports Apple Pencil 2nd generation and Apple Pencil with USB-C.
In terms of connectivity, the new iPad mini has Wi-Fi 6E, while the older tablet has Wi-Fi 6. The difference between the two is not that big. With compatible networking hardware, newer tablets should experience less lag. .
Oh, and if you opt for the cellular-enabled iPad mini with the A17 Pro, keep in mind that it only supports eSIM. The cellular iPad mini 6th generation had a nano SIM slot and eSIM support.
camera
stagnation
Outside of the iPad Pro line, tablet cameras are usually an afterthought.
There’s nothing special about the iPad mini (A17 Pro). It has the same camera as the previous model. We’re talking about a 12MP wide camera with an f/1.8 aperture and up to 5x digital zoom.
The front camera is probably the one you will use more often. Again, no changes. 12MP FaceTime snapper with f/2.4 aperture, center stage, and cinematic video stabilization. The sound quality is good enough for FaceTime and Zoom calls.
The only difference between the two generations is that the new iPad supports Smart HDR 4 for still image capture, while the iPad mini 6th generation only supports Smart HDR 3. This doesn’t make a huge difference to the overall photo quality. Because we’re not expecting miracles from a budget iPad’s camera setup.
Battery life and charging
Battery durability could be significantly improved
Both tablets offer up to 10 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi and up to 9 hours of browsing on cellular.
Regarding charging, there are no changes this time. Both feature a USB-C port and can charge up to 20W.
Spec comparison
| specification | iPad mini (A17 Pro) | iPad mini 6th generation |
|---|---|---|
| size | 195.4×134.8×6.3mm | 195.4×134.8×6.3mm |
| weight | 297gr | 297gr |
| screen | 8.3 inch LCD 60Hz 500 nits peak brightness |
8.3 inch LCD 60Hz 500 nits peak brightness |
| processor | Apple A17 Pro (3nm) | Apple A15 (5nm) |
| RAM, storage, price | 8GB/128GB – $499 8GB/256GB – $599 8GB/512GB – $799 |
4GB/64GB 4GB/256GB |
| camera | 12MP F1.8 12MP front, f/2.4 |
12MP F1.8 12MP front, f/2.4 |
| battery size | 5,078mAh | 5,078mAh |
| charging speed | 20W wired USB-C |
20W wired USB-C |
Which one should I buy?
Well, probably no one wanted this iPad release, but at least it has more storage and memory. It also has a sanitary bare minimum for Apple Intelligence support, which is great.
So, should you upgrade?
If you’re an avid iPad mini user, upgrading to the new model will probably be easy. This features what we believe is the biggest hardware refresh ever for the iPad mini, so now’s the time to get your hands on a compact tablet with the latest features.
If you’re looking to get into the iPad scene, this isn’t the perfect entry point, but it’s the most affordable and a good entry point into the rest of the lineup. It’s at least worth considering.
