Apple Unveils New iPad Mini With A17 Pro Chip and Apple Intelligence

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced a significant upgrade to the iPad mini, now featuring an A17 Pro chip and support for the company's new Apple Intelligence system. The refreshed seventh-generation tablet maintains its compact 8.3-inch design while offering notable performance improvements and new capabilities.

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The A17 Pro chip brings a 30% boost in CPU performance and a 25% increase in GPU performance compared to the previous generation, according to Apple.

The new iPad mini also gains support for Apple Pencil Pro, which introduces pressure sensitivity, haptic feedback, and gesture controls. Other improvements include Wi-Fi 6E support, faster USB-C data transfer, and an upgraded 12MP wide camera with Smart HDR 4.

Apple Intelligence offers features improved writing tools, image generation, and enhanced task automation. The system utilizes both on-device processing and cloud-based models to balance performance and privacy. The first set of Apple Intelligence features will be available in U.S. English this month through a free software update with iPadOS 18.1.

Available in four colors, including new blue and purple options, the new iPad mini with Wi-Fi starts at $499 for 128GB of storage (double the minimum storage of the previous generation), and $649 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. The new iPad mini is also available in 256GB and 512GB configurations.

Pre-orders begin today, with availability starting October 23. A new Smart Folio, available in charcoal gray, light violet, denim, and sage, is also available for $59.


Article Link: Apple Unveils New iPad Mini With A17 Pro Chip and Apple Intelligence

 

[abatabia]

I wonder if this means no event? Still. My mini 6 is just fine.

 

[Taylor22]

Ah yes, the Wi-Fi 6 that is faster than 7.....

 

[boak]

First time the mini does not get the latest generation chip?

 

[McJobs]

Deleted.

 

[Delorean2006]

Ah yes, the Wi-Fi 6 that is faster than 7.....
View attachment 2437639

definitely a typo (I think) under the tech specs it says Wifi 6E

 

[gpat]

The toastiest iPad ever, to keep your food warm while you're using it as a tray.

 

[TallManNY]

I wonder if this means no event? Still. My mini 6 is just fine.

No. Upgrades that are just done by press release like this means the October event is too packed and they want to just get this out of the way and not spend any time on the mini in the event.

 

[mango316]

Woahh!! Press release instead of event unveiling!! 🤯

 

[imola.zhp]

$230 trade in for my mini 6 on a $600 mini 7, both 256gb.

Pass...

 

[StoneJack]

ok finally a good update. Having said that our iPad 6 mini is still going strong

 

[Malus120]

Well that was... straight outta left field. No event, no fanfare... just. BOOM. New iPad Mini.
Not the most compelling update but not terrible. Meh, maybe it'll pop up on Slickdeals someday and I'll pick one up.

 

[frost_horizon]

No 120 Hz is instant pass for me.

 

[coffeemilktea]

And before the rumored end-of-October event? It's nice to get it so soon. 🤭

(if waiting three years for an update is "soon" )

 

[dannyyankou]

Does just a new chip and compatibility with the latest Apple Pencil qualify as a “significant update”?

 

[pksv]

iPad Air 11" M2 is still the best value iPad probably ever.

 

[Arm64MyMac]

2 surprises here for me:

1) Announcing this not at the end of October event is mildly surprising.

2) using last year’s “first gen 3nm” is also mildly surpassing. Was thinking Apple doesn’t want to use that stop-gap chip anymore.

 

[BreuerEditor]

Starting at 128GB of storage?! Nicely done Apple. Now let's get the RAM up in all computers starting at 16GB, and 32GB for Pro models (MBP, Studio, MacPro).

 

[abatabia]

$230 trade in for my mini 6 on a $600 mini 7.

Pass...

For this non update I'd hang onto the 6. I am.

 

[pacmania1982]

That price....ouch!

 

[bigjnyc]

No 120 Hz is instant pass for me.

Apple will release at least 10 more iterations before they offer 120hz on the mini.

 

[madmin]

Apple's lineup is very simple, Pro or underwelming

 

[Zorn]

Am I the only one that caught the line in their release that basically says iOS 18.1 is only going to be available for iPads that run A17 Pro or M1+? If that's the case it seems they are cutting off quite a few iPad models with 18.1, previously it was just the Apple Intelligence features themselves which required M1 or later:

"The first set of Apple Intelligence features will be available in U.S. English this month through a free software update with iPadOS 18.1, and available for iPad with A17 Pro or M1 and later."

 

[System603]

Mini 6 is still plenty fast, with iPadOS being the only potential usage bottleneck. Aside from Apple Pencil Pro with barrel roll and haptic feedback (pressure was already there), I don't see a compelling reason to upgrade. Makes sense for Apple to announce the upgraded model via a press release, rather than including it in a full-scale event.

I feared they might include an OLED display, making it impossible for me to resist 😁. With this, I can skip a generation, but it makes for an even better device for first-time buyers.

If forced to choose, I'd pick an OLED over 120 Hz. True blacks and potential battery savings beat (even) smoother scrolling for me. After a few minutes, I cease to notice the lower refresh rate when switching from my iPhone Pro, but the absence of true blacks stands out every day (and night! ).

 

[dimplemonkey]

Let me know if they fixed the "jelly scroll".