The 2024 iPad mini has been updated for the first time in three years, and it’s a bit disappointing for some of the product’s biggest fans. In fact, other than the processor, almost nothing has changed from the 2021 model.
Apple’s new trend of naming the processors inside its iPads means this new product is officially the 2024 iPad mini (A17 Pro). It’s a small tidbit, but it also points out a fundamental contradiction that troubles many iPad mini fans. Finally, there’s the iPad mini, which has “Pro” in its name, but that’s just the name of the chip inside it. The iPad mini itself is still a notch below the iPad Air on Apple’s priority list.
Apple Intelligence Convenience
The most interesting thing about this product is that it uses the A17 Pro. This processor is only used in one product: last year’s (now discontinued) iPhone 15 Pro. The A17 Pro is based on an abandoned dead-end 3nm chip manufacturing process (the same one used in the M3 processor) and a next-generation 3nm process (the one used in the M4, A18, and A18 Pro) has been replaced by processor).
What this probably means is that the iPad mini may have a chip that wasn’t eligible for use in the iPhone 15 Pro, but the new iPad mini will have one GPU instead of being discarded. It means that the core is disabled and used. From a cost-cutting and waste-prevention perspective, this is a smart move on Apple’s part. But it’s understandable to lose some enthusiasm for including something that has failed another Apple product. It also appears that there is a definite upper limit on the number of iPad minis produced. Once the iPad mini reaches the bottom of the A17 Pro’s box, that’s likely the limit. This version of the product is being retired.
The new iPad mini is likely to use the A17 Pro chip that was scrapped during production of the iPhone 15 Pro.
foundry
Then again, that might not be such a scary prospect. Think of it this way. Apple wants all of its devices to support Apple Intelligence as soon as possible. This update to the only chip that supported Apple Intelligence before this fall comes into play. If you want to wish cast your iPad mini, consider that you might not have to wait another three years for the next iPad mini update.
Apple is currently in a bind with the iPad mini upgrade. The A18 processor is new, and probably all of it goes to support the iPhone 16, which will probably require a downgrade in USB speeds. iPad mini. The M2 chip used in the iPad Air is actually 1 generation older It has much greater power requirements than the A17 Pro and would likely have required significant modifications to the iPad mini’s internal structure. Then again, here’s a box of unused A17 Pro chips that were made for use in Apple’s top-of-the-line iPhone just a few months ago.
So perhaps this is just a matter of doing something stopgap and waiting for a more substantial iPad mini update later.
sad reason
The current iPad mini fills some interesting niches as a small device dedicated to reading. But those who are disappointed can make some strong arguments.
Current iPad mini color variations
I agree. what apple needs
To make it fun again.
apple
A device that’s already great for reading, like the iPad mini, could probably use a better screen. That requires faster refresh rates (60Hz is starting to feel very choppy), better colors and contrast (OLED, anyone?), and dramatically improved screen brightness and reduced glare. is. The iPad will never be a Kindle, but it could still be much better for poolside reading.
The last round of iPad minis was fun, too, with bright colors that really fit the “this is a cute gadget to have at home” vibe. Apparently, people were having so much fun that someone broke into Apple’s color lab and poured a tankful of boring agent into the iPad vat. The new blue color looks silver, and the new purple color looks silver. Starlight is a yellowish silver. It’s so boring.
reason to believe
Suppose you are willing to follow me through the glass. In that case, I’d like to make a surprising suggestion for the future of the iPad mini. There will be a new iPad mini in the next few years, and it’s going to be amazing, and it’s going to be very expensive. But again, it’s amazing.
That’s because the next iPad mini might turn out to be a foldable iPhone.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could fold up your iPhone and essentially create a new kind of iPad mini?
Think about it. The iPad mini is great at running iOS, but its small size makes it easy to carry and handle. Now consider the rumors that Apple is working on a foldable version of the iPhone. Wouldn’t it be great if you could fold up your iPhone and essentially create a new kind of iPad mini?
Such a device costs a lot of money, but consider the professional features it includes. A ProMotion screen with OLED is a given, but I’d also like to include support for Apple Pencil. There is no doubt that it has a better camera than the current iPad mini.
The more I think about Apple’s approach to making foldable devices the gateway to devices like the iPad, the more I think about why Apple has made the iPad mini an affordable option that is better than the base iPad but not as powerful as the latest model. You will be able to understand what you want to maintain as a product. Cousin, iPad Air.
Cheers, iPad mini fans. A new model is now available that supports Apple Intelligence. Its lifespan is probably artificially limited by chip availability, so a suitable update may come in the future. And if you want a really, really stylish, pro-level iPad mini, it could be your next iPhone. As long as I’m patient…maybe Really Patient.
