Announced via a press release, the refreshed Mini comes with hardware bumps and a starting price of US$499 for the version that carries 128 GB of storage. Pre-orders are available now, with the device officially hitting stores next Wednesday.
Seemingly keen to prove that it’s not about the size but what you can do with it, the key highlight of the new iPad Mini is the A17 Pro chip, which promises a 30% faster CPU and a 25% faster GPU compared to the previous model.
The Neural Engine is also said to be twice as fast, catering to more AI-driven tasks. Apple has also doubled the base storage to 128GB, up from 64GB, a significant bump for users handling larger files or AI workloads. Of course, we know by now that not all promised Apple Intelligence features will be available on Apple’s newest devices right off the bat.
The new Mini, which sports an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, now supports Wi-Fi 6E for faster wireless connectivity and features a faster USB-C port.
On the design front, Apple has introduced new muted purple and blue color options, continuing its trend of adding more colorful choices across its product lines. Other than these new hues, the device retains the same overall design as its predecessor.
The latest iPad Mini also supports the Apple Pencil Pro, enhancing its appeal to digital artists and note-takers. Additionally, Apple has highlighted the device’s hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which improves the graphical performance for gaming and other high-end applications.
This update follows Apple’s recent refresh of the rest of its iPad lineup, which included the introduction of the M2 chip to the iPad Air and a redesign of the iPad Pro. The iPad Mini, often seen as a niche product, remains in Apple’s portfolio, though with a different update cycle compared to other iPads.
Despite its smaller size, the iPad Mini has a loyal following, especially among professionals like pilots, who appreciate its portability.
