Apple just made a surprise announcement, releasing a new iPad mini for the first time in 3 years with very little fanfare. Despite the reveal coming in a press release instead of a live event, it’s a pretty substantial upgrade that should interest anyone who prefers a smaller iPad.
The most notable upgrade here is the A17 Pro chip, as seen in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. This will offer much better performance than the A15 Bionic it replaces, sure, but this particular chip was chosen for another reason: it’s the entry-level route to Apple Intelligence. As Apple gears up to release a suite of AI features to the masses with iOS 18.1 later this month, introducing a relatively low-cost iPad that’s compatible with all that new stuff is a smart move.
But 7th-generation iPad mini improves on its predecessor in more ways than just the chip. It also adds support for Apple Pencil Pro, offers faster WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, twice as much storage (128GB) on the base model, a Smart HDR 4 display, and an upgraded USB-C port for quicker data transfers. There are some tidy new color options, too.
Apple’s focus with this iPad mini is clear: making Apple Intelligence accessible to a broader audience. Anyone interested in trying out the latest AI tools in a smaller form factor that’s easier on the wallet, this could be the solution.
iPad mini 7 starts from $499/£499 and is available to pre-order immediately, with availability from Wednesday, October 23. We could be wrong, but that seems to imply iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 will be released on or before that date, to ensure this new model with Apple Intelligence at its core can actually use those features from day one. We’re also still expecting Apple to host another live event at the end of the month, so stay tuned for more!