What to Expect From Apple's 2024 iPad Mini 7

[MarkDeMoss]

What for? I have a SIM card slot in my 6 and it is utterly useless. There is no phone function, no sms function, so no Whatsapp (not even available in the store). All you can do is go online but that would work over any hotspot on any phone that you have to have with you anyway. All it does it costs you another mobile contract.
Now, WITH a phone function for your few phone calls a year but full Whatsapp working, it would fly of the shelf. Of course, there would be no more need for an 1800 Euro iPhone anymore, the mini fits in your back jeans pocket the same than in any jacket pocket where my iPhone sits now.
We have 82 iPhone 13pro here at work, I would change them in a heart beat to minis with phone function.The bigger screen would be worth a lot. Don´t care about the processor or camera, all overkill for years but the thing has to do something.

I got a Samsung Galaxy Tab 5 active for tests. iPad mini size but phone function, sd card memory extension, water and dust proof, loud, changeable battery!!!!!, 23 Euros a piece, Headphone jack, DEX desktop system build in, USB 3,1 Dual SIM, 5years support for 500Euros. Now, I love Apple for 38years, but to castrate a communication device to the point, that you HAVE to spend thousands more to make a phone call, is getting ludicrous.It´s not even the money, it´s the fact that everything is there but blocked, so you buy more devices.Our iPhones stand on very shaky ground in October when they are being replaced. Since the Samsung tablets communicate seamless with our Macs, the reasons to keep iPhones are getting very few and far in between.

Apple has with the iPad mini a wonderful device, let it live up to its potential.

With the SIM card, I just swap between various devices while traveling. Cell service sucks here so being able to swap out the sim when in certain locations that only use one network is nice. Hotspot is something I do but only if there's no other option such as the Vision Pro. The SIM card swaps between iPhone (phone calls and data) to an iPad. Full speed, no battery loss or speed loss or special expensive hotspot plan concerns when swapping over with a physical sim.

esim you are very dependent on the network to switch things, with physical sim, I just swap and it works. I've done the dual sim with two different networks and I had all sorts of issues, that was a few years ago back when I was paying close to $400 a month for cell service with 3 different carriers. I've learned how to lower those bills. Esim makes it harder to lower the cell phone bills if you travel.

Cell carriers in the USA only care about heavily populated areas. If you get out of rat race areas, you're often SOL. More options is better than less options. QualComm owns Apple in a lot of ways and I wonder if the cell phone carriers "own" QualComm, there's a lot more money for them if people are forced to esim it seems. You're more stuck with said device only.

 

[thefourthpope]

I use my mini 6 almost daily in a work environment. Note taking in meetings, lesson planning when teaching, sort-of-secondary display for my air when on the move . . . It’s a great device and nearly perfect for me. I do think it could be improved relatively easily by:
- longer battery life
- corrected jelly scroll
- updated processor

I’d upgrade for two out of those three. A better screen, even if it increases the price, would also do it. Face ID would be nice but I'm happy with Touch ID.

Separately from hardware, I’d be THRILLED with a minor update so the Touch ID indicator didn’t replace the battery percentage indicator on the lock screen.

 

[Eric_WVGG]

The worst thing about the iPad Mini 6 is the weird 744px wide screen resolution (all prior Mini's used 768px, which is a pretty standard screen res going back forever).

Loads of web pages used 768 as the cut-off before phone sizes, so a lot of the web renders as a weird stretched out phone UI. Most web devs are lazy as hell and mostly just think about whatever devices they personally use*, so these small screen sizes tend to get overlooked most of the time.

* I am a web dev

 

[VampyricGentleman]

Hoping that it will be provided with a quality keyboard case, either by first party or third party. I didn’t upgrade to the 6 because the ones available weren’t very good. I love my series 5. It fits in my jacket pocket so I can do a lot of things on the go without having extra baggage.

 

[klasma]

Fingers crossed that they don't kill the SIM card slot. There's a chance they'll keep it for this model. OLED model, no chance and that will finally get a M series chip to keep up with AI. But for now, if they keep the SIM card slot, then I'll pick one up for sure.

Now that you mention it, it’s quite likely that they will kill it.

 

[klasma]

They might do this in 2026/27. It's too soon for them to do an OLED in 2024.

Yes, according to the leaked OLED roadmap, it’s planned for 2027, one year after the Air in 2026.

 

[dandyryan]

The worst thing about the iPad Mini 6 is the weird 744px wide screen resolution (all prior Mini's used 768px, which is a pretty standard screen res going back forever).

Loads of web pages used 768 as the cut-off before phone sizes, so a lot of the web renders as a weird stretched out phone UI. Most web devs are lazy as hell and mostly just think about whatever devices they personally use*, so these small screen sizes tend to get overlooked most of the time.

* I am a web dev

I am a web dev too, and because of tighter scaling on the iPad mini using the tablet breakpoint of 768 vertically is not a good experience as it's the most crammed 768 experience ever. Just go landscape or deal with mobile view on vertical, 744 is fine.

 

[klasma]

What for? I have a SIM card slot in my 6 and it is utterly useless. There is no phone function, no sms function, so no Whatsapp (not even available in the store). All you can do is go online but that would work over any hotspot on any phone that you have to have with you anyway. All it does it costs you another mobile contract.

Tethering drains my iPhone much too quickly. I use a prepaid card for the iPad, so I only pay for when I use it, no base fee. You could use VOIP apps for calls if you really need that.

 

[sublunar]

Now that you mention it, it’s quite likely that they will kill it.

I think if Apple are only doing a light refresh on the iPad 7 then the SIM slot remains and the existing tooling continues (after all, it might just be a new SoC and display controller), it's a major change like OLED that will probably see a new case being done - that's when they would delete the slot in my opinion.

 

[xmarcuswildx]

If there isn’t a 120hz screen it’s garbage. Pretty simple. There is NO REASON a device should NOT have 120hz in 2024. It’s a god damn joke. Apple acting like it’s so expensive for 120hz 8” panels. Disgusting. Apple is cooked.

 

[xmarcuswildx]

I wish it was possible for just the higher end model to have OLED (a long shot I realize). $499 for OLED is pushing it but the higher tier model is $649. You could bump just that tier up to $699 easily and give people an actual reason to spend that much on a mini tablet without taking away the $499 option from those who are just looking for a cheap small tablet.

I'd also argue that the iPad mini is not for budget conscious consumers anyway. They have the iPad 10 for that. People buying the iPad mini are spending extra (over the $349 ipad 10th gen) to get a small tablet specifically. They are willing to pay more.

I’ll gladly pay an extra $100-150 for an OLED 120hz screen on an iPad mini. An iPad mini with an OLED 120hz screen instantly becomes the best iPad in the lineup.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I know it probably will never happen, but I would like a mini-pro. Then they could have 3 models in the pro line.

I would buy that day one. However, Apple won't do it because it would probably outsell the 11" Pro.

 

[Greenmeenie]

I’m waiting to update my iPad mini 5. Would love to see an OLED iPad mini…but as rumors suggest, that’s not gonna happen until 2026 or later. So with that in mind, first and foremost, I’d like to see the iPad Mini 7 get a pro motion display to address the jelly scroll issue. I’d love face ID and of course a faster chip. I doubt the mini will get an M2 or even M1 chip. But if it gets the A17 or next A18 that would be awesome. Lastly, as an artist, I hope it can use the new Apple Pencil Pro. I have an M4 iPad Pro, but also like the mini as an ultra-portable digital sketchbook when I really wanna travel light.

 

[Rafterman]

No mention of storage. The new Airs went from 256GB max to 1TB. Hopefully, the Mini will too. Or at least to 512GB.

 

[phrehdd]

Looking forward to an updated Mini. I already have a couple of uses to make it worth my while. I had one years ago and a friend liked it so much, I foolishly gave it to him as he had even more uses for one than myself. Now its time to return to the fold and perhaps a pro 11.

 

[Chlloret]

Tethering drains my iPhone much too quickly. I use a prepaid card for the iPad, so I only pay for when I use it, no base fee. You could use VOIP apps for calls if you really need that.

Well, I never had a battery issue just because I used the hot spot for a few hours. VoIP apps do not work, they can´t accept sms for banking or other services (the sms function is not working for that) and you will not get a real number for people to call. YOUR number you got for the last 20 years. It is not for outgoing calls, I rarely make those, everything in the last few years shifted to whatsapp.
It is to receive calls. And as I said, the mobile modem is built in. It is not activated so you are suppose to buy a phone.
If that does not change, there is no reason to pay 150 Euros extra for cellular if this cellular connection is castrated. But there are alternatives to have a portable tablet and phone in one, so you have one device, one battery, one phone contract and are reachable anywhere with your number. Even when there is no more data, phone service comes most of the time thru. The iPhone is notoriously bad what reception is concerned, the iPad is slightly better. Nothing of course against the Android tablet, I get 2bars and 10MB download where the iPhone gets no service at all.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Amazing new hardware, same terrible OS.

 

[teh_hunterer]

It needs a display that doesn't suck. Compared to the other iPads it is a dull and weak display. I considered getting one until I tried it out in the store and saw how dim it was.

 

[jimmy_uk]

It needs a display that doesn't suck. Compared to the other iPads it is a dull and weak display. I considered getting one until I tried it out in the store and saw how dim it was.

Did Apple manage to price you up into a higher spec model?

 

[klky]

Regardless of what Apple do, I will be getting a mini 7. The wife has already claimed my 6 lol.

 

[The Game 161]

I do love my mini and so ideal for books and Apple News magazines. Good on the go tablet.

 

[leebroath]

The Mini is perfect for on the go and traveling which I do a lot of every year by plane.

I also do a lot of editing on Lightroom and on the odd occasion some video editing, but my iPad Pro can be heavy when combined with my Keyboard case and other essentials in my backpack.

As mentioned before, if the Mini came with a better screen (OLED would be nice), more storage and better refresh rate, I would be ordering one right away. I don't need any outer design changes, and it certainly doesn't need to be thinner!

 

[H_D]

I don’t think such a small upgrade will bring many people to the Mini, it would definitely not make me buy a new one. Bringing some of the features of the new M4-Pros to the Mini, however, would be a significant step forward. Well, maybe in 2027 :-/

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'd love an OLED

But I'd be fine with a "non garbage LED" also

Mini 6 screen is the worst screen on any device Apple currently sells

 

[Eric_WVGG]

I am a web dev too, and because of tighter scaling on the iPad mini using the tablet breakpoint of 768 vertically is not a good experience as it's the most crammed 768 experience ever. Just go landscape or deal with mobile view on vertical, 744 is fine.

No, no… this is wretched. There’s a reason why books, magazines and letters aren’t printed in landscape.