Yeah. Might be press release every day like they did before. Makes sense as new Macs are only chip change
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Unveils New iPad Mini With A17 Pro Chip and Apple Intelligence
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Thanks for the tip.
Neat device, but it's older and since most aren't getting my Android OS and more importantly regular security updates - it's a no go personally.
Don't much care about the former, but the latter (basic external monitor support) is the main thing, hindering me to use a Mini as my primary mobile device.
Guess I'll have to hope Google does a Pixel Mini tablet or Microsoft a Mini Surface.
I was looking forward to this device as I don't have a mini but want a compact iPad with cellular. I figured I may as well wait for the new one now that it's around the corner.
But this update is really lazy and cost-optimized. I expected an A18 but they used the A17 Pro. First I thought that this doesn't make any sense for Apple, but seeing that the chip is binned (5 core GPU instead of 6) it suddenly makes a lot of sense, as they never sold a binned version of the A17 Pro. TSMC's N3B process doesn't seem to have the best yields, resulting in a lot of chips that need binning. So they probably have quite a lot of them "lying around". This leaves me wondering what they'll use for the regular iPad though. The A17 Pro as well, or some even lower binned version they just call A17? Or the A18, but then the base iPad would have a more modern chip than the more expensive mini.
And that chip is basically the only upgrade, along with everything that comes with (10 Gbit/s USB-C, Apple Intelligence etc.)? EDIT: I guess they realigned some magnets and charging coils to support the Apple Pencil Pro now, but they didn't take this opportunity to move the camera from portrait to landscape.
Well, guess I'll still order one (well played, Apple?) as I really dig the form factor. But no way I'd upgrade from a mini 6.
But this update is really lazy and cost-optimized. I expected an A18 but they used the A17 Pro. First I thought that this doesn't make any sense for Apple, but seeing that the chip is binned (5 core GPU instead of 6) it suddenly makes a lot of sense, as they never sold a binned version of the A17 Pro. TSMC's N3B process doesn't seem to have the best yields, resulting in a lot of chips that need binning. So they probably have quite a lot of them "lying around". This leaves me wondering what they'll use for the regular iPad though. The A17 Pro as well, or some even lower binned version they just call A17? Or the A18, but then the base iPad would have a more modern chip than the more expensive mini.
And that chip is basically the only upgrade, along with everything that comes with (10 Gbit/s USB-C, Apple Intelligence etc.)? EDIT: I guess they realigned some magnets and charging coils to support the Apple Pencil Pro now, but they didn't take this opportunity to move the camera from portrait to landscape.
Well, guess I'll still order one (well played, Apple?) as I really dig the form factor. But no way I'd upgrade from a mini 6.
Last edited:
I would guarantee that the majority of clients don't care about ProMotion or Specs(I.E. RAM, Hz...etc). If the majority cared, they would force Apple to change because they would stop buying the products and ultimately impact Apple's bottom line. Apple does what they do because they continue sell their products at incredible levels.
The 40/50/60 year old buying a iPhone 16, doesn't care that it has 60Hz. They are the ones buying the the product, so your opinion of "subpar experience" is your opinion and doesn't matter to them. Sorry to be so blunt.
Macrumor members are the very very very small minority of Apple Customers.
Last edited:
You’re also getting twice the storage for the base model (128 GB). My chief problem with the mini 6 is storage because I have the 64 GB base model. The new base model will save many mini buyers $100.
No. But it also has double the base storage, double the RAM, a faster USB-C port (2x) as well as wifi chip (6E vs 6), updated bluetooth (5.3), and hopefully (likely) the portrait jelly scroll issue has been fixed at the same former price of $499 while the 256GB model has seen a $50 price DECREASE. I feel like this is the exact update we all should have expected, though I do still wish we got a 90Hz refresh rate...
Last edited:
Well said !
Just talking to non tech friends, work colleagues or relatives over 40, they don't know or care for Pro Motion. That's _my_ real world experience.
Last edited:
by then iPads will already be replaced by the Apple Vision Mini… at 60fps! 😆
Does Apple realize they're releasing this in 2024, not 2023...or even 2022? The mini 6 is still a solid device and this 7 was not the successor it deserved.
It's likely more expensive once they run out of stock of binned A17 Pro chips. The A18 should be cheaper to manufacture new, and the A18 Pro likely is as well.
They'll likely only use the A17 Pro on lower-volume products like the iPad mini from now on. This might include the Apple TV, sure.
Well they just want everyone to buy the Pro. Let's see just how many years before tandem OLED display trickling down to the non Pro, let alone 120Hz.
So Apple cheaped out, what a load of crap when they could have made a very decently specced mini. No Face ID, slower CPU, old Wi-Fi 6 and tops out at 512GB of storage. Slow clap Apple.
The biggest surprise is A17 Pro instead of A18. The N3B process is expensive and one that I thought they would move away from as quickly as possible. They had to do A17 Pro or A18 (or M1?) due to Apple intelligence. However, I’m surprised they went with this one as I thought it would be one they moved away from as quickly as possible.
Last edited:
I understand that. This is why Apple can get away with not offering Apple intelligent on iPhone 15. This is also why non-pro iPhone does not have always on display.
Yes, Apple is offering subpar experience with non-pro models. There is no reason that regular iPhone can’t have ProMotion display and always on display.
Jason Snell is meh on this update too.
sixcolors.com
The new iPad mini’s surprising not-new processor
I suppose it’s telling that the most interesting and surprising thing about the just-announced 7th-generation iPad mini is the processor Apple put inside. For fans of the iPad mini who were h…
sixcolors.com
Jason Snell is meh on this update too.
The new iPad mini’s surprising not-new processor
I suppose it’s telling that the most interesting and surprising thing about the just-announced 7th-generation iPad mini is the processor Apple put inside. For fans of the iPad mini who were h…
Which is very telling
It takes a pretty disappointing performance to get Jason commenting to that effect publicly
This is a key point. The Mini 6 is still very good. The 7 is not as good as it should be.
A better screen should have been a no brainer - there's easily 0.4-0.5 inches to play with in the bezels, and better brightness would be welcome. The camera should have been moved to the long edge. Better monitor support should have been included. And that's quite aside from the OS limitations.
The 7 is a solid device - it's just that it could have been so much more, and it kinda feels like Apple are being cynical with this upgrade (shocking, I know!)
I feel like Jason is one of the more honest Apple bloggers/podcasters these days. He understands how the company thinks/works but isn’t a shill for it. He’s my favorite to listen to.
A commenter at The Verge put together a compelling iPad lineup. I’m guessing Apple doesn’t sell enough minis to make two versions but since it’s not the cheapest iPad then go all in and give it high end specs like OLED and Pro Motion.
This is becoming a reoccurring theme with everything Apple releases these days.Jason Snell is meh on this update too.
The new iPad mini’s surprising not-new processor
I suppose it’s telling that the most interesting and surprising thing about the just-announced 7th-generation iPad mini is the processor Apple put inside. For fans of the iPad mini who were h…
I agree, but I think he's usually trying to be positive instead neutral or negative or cynical
Don't get me wrong - I LOVE that about him
I admire it honestly, as Apple under Tim Cook has made me into a cynical and reluctant customer
I don't like that about where I'm at ... but I personally can't help it with the directions they've chosen to go under