Apple’s iPad Mini series has always been popular with users who want to experience Apple’s iPadOS at an affordable price point. The iPad Mini 6th generation was one of the best sellers, but since it was released in 2021, there was a big gap in the upgrades users were looking for. But Apple has finally launched the new iPad Mini 7th generation, which continues to promise users a balance of portability and performance, and brings significant upgrades to the 2021 iPad Mini.
From a faster A17 Pro chip to support for Apple Intelligence and a USB C port for charging, here’s a breakdown of the new iPad Mini’s five biggest upgrades compared to the 2021 model.
Improved performance with A17 Pro chip
One of the most important changes in iPad Mini 7 is the increased performance with the A17 Pro chip. The A17 Pro is promised to deliver up to 30% faster performance than the A15 Bionic found in the 2021 iPad Mini. In addition to offering performance upgrades, this chip also offers upgraded graphics capabilities with ray tracing, a feature previously only found in higher-end Apple devices.
apple intelligence
Another notable upgrade is support for Apple Intelligence with iPadOS 18 on iPad Mini 7. iPad Mini 2021 gets the iPadOS 18 update, while the new generation iPad Mini gets Apple’s new AI-driven suite. With Apple Intelligence features, new iPad Mini users will be able to experience features such as notification summaries, clean up photo editing tools, and more.
improved camera
Both models have a 12-megapixel wide rear camera, but the iPad Mini 7 also has some upgrades to its camera setup. The new iPad Mini benefits from Smart HDR 4 and machine learning improvements, and this upgraded difference lies in software enhancements. These upgrades will enable the 2024 iPad Mini to offer better low-light performance, sharper detail, and more vibrant colors, especially when taking photos and scanning documents.
The front of the iPad Mini 7 still features a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera with center stage, but once again Apple has improved the camera with machine learning upgrades. The camera software is also optimized for video calls and can adjust the camera to keep you centered in the frame while on the move.
Apple Pencil Pro (with hover support)
iPad Mini 7 is also compatible with Apple’s latest Apple Pencil Pro, which offers more advanced stylus functionality than the standard Apple Pencil (USB-C) support on iPad Mini 2021. The Apple Pencil Pro also gives users hover support. Use the stylus to detect your position on the display.
expanded storage
Apple has also expanded storage options for the iPad Mini 7, offering a choice between 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, compared to the more limited 64GB and 256GB options on the iPad Mini 2021.
