How does Apple’s new iPad mini 7 stack up in opposition to its predecessor?

• iPad mini (seventh era)

  Apple’s seventh era miniature-sized iPad, full with an A17 Professional chip for full-fledged Apple Intelligence assist.

• 

  iPad Mini (sixth era)

  Apple’s sixth era iPad mini brings the iPad Professional-inspired redesign we have lengthy been ready for, alongside the A15 Bionic chip.

Apple’s iPad mini lineup has lengthy been a fan favourite, ever because it’s preliminary launch all the way in which again in 2012. Regardless of Steve Jobs’ preliminary resistance in the direction of miniature-sized tablets, the tech large finally invested in the form factor.

Again in 2021, Apple gave the iPad mini it is first main redesign within the type of a 6th generation product, with the pill adopting iPad Professional-inspired design parts together with slim and uniform bezels, swipe-based gesture navigation, and a flatter, extra industrial design language.

After three lengthy years of ready, the all-new iPad mini 7th generation has lastly landed, with Apple bestowing the pill with a reasonably main under-the-hood spec enhance. Here is how the brand new iPad mini 7 compares with the outgoing sixth era mannequin.

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Worth, availability, and launch date

• 	iPad mini (seventh era)	Apple iPad Mini (2021)
  Model	Apple	Apple
  Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	64GB, 256GB
  Working System	iPadOS 18	iPadOS 18
  Ports	USB-C (10Gbps)	USB-C (5Gbps)
  Show kind	8.3-inch 2266 x 1488 LCD	8.3-inch 2266 x 1488 LCD
  Colours	House grey, starlight, purple, blue	House gray, pink, purple, starlight
  Rear Digital camera	12-megapixel large	12-megapixel large
  Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, optionally available mobile 5G	Wi-fi 6, optionally available 5G
  Weight	0.65lbs (293g) Wi-Fi, 0.66lbs (297g) Mobile	0.65lbs (293g) Wi-Fi, 0.66lbs (297g) Mobile
  SoC	Apple A17 Professional	A15 Bionic
  Entrance Digital camera	12-megapixel ultra-wide	12-megapixel ultra-wide
  Dimensions	7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25-inches (195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3mm)	7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25-inches (195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3mm)

The iPad mini sixth era was first launched in 2021, representing a serious overhaul of the mini-sized type issue. It launched in starlight, house gray, purple, and pink colorways, with a beginning value of $500. This base mannequin shipped with 64GB of inner storage and a Wi-Fi antenna. A costlier 256GB storage configuration, in addition to a mobile radio SKU, have been additionally out there.

Compared, the brand new iPad mini seventh era begins on the identical $500 value level, however comes with 128GB of storage in its fundamental Wi-Fi-only configuration. Colour choices embody starlight, house gray, purple, and blue, and the system might be configured with 256GB or 512GB of storage, alongside a costlier mobile variant.

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The iPad mini seventh era is on the market now for pre-order, and is predicted to land in prospects’ fingers on October 23. As for the outgoing iPad mini — it seems that Apple has delisted it from its official storefront, fairly than opting to maintain it within the lineup at a lowered value level. That being mentioned, the corporate’s Certified Refurbished storefront continues to list iPad 6 fashions at lowered costs.

How do the 2 mini-sized tablets stack up?

The brand new mannequin would possibly look the identical, nevertheless it’s packing a a lot stronger punch on the within

Pocket-lint / Apple

Apple took three years to ship a generational replace to the iPad mini collection, and expertise has moved on quickly on this brief time frame. The outgoing mannequin shipped with the A15 Bionic chip, which first debuted within the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max handsets. In contrast, the brand new iPad mini 7 ships with the A17 Professional chip first seen in final yr’s iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max telephones.

It is a pretty substantial leap up in computing energy, even when Apple hasn’t christened the mini with one in every of its M series chipsets. The efficiency enhance, notably with regards to {hardware} accelerated neural processing, is what provides the brand new mini the flexibility to faucet into the upcoming AI characteristic set generally known as Apple Intelligence.

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Whereas Apple would not immediately point out RAM amount, which means I am going to have to attend to independently confirm this specification when the system arrives, I reckon that the brand new mini 7 will ship with 8GB of the stuff — which might be double the RAM of the outgoing mannequin. On-device AI is notoriously RAM hungry, and we have seen newer tech merchandise up the ante in current months.

There are a couple of further upgrades to be discovered within the iPad mini seventh era. These embody assist for Wi-Fi 6E, 10Gbps USB-C, a brand new Sensible HDR 4 processing algorithm for the cameras, and assist for the Apple Pencil Pro and its numerous squeeze gestures. In contrast, the iPad mini seventh era got here with Wi-Fi 6, 5Gbps USB-C, Sensible HDR 3, and Apple Pencil 2 assist.

Which iPad mini must you purchase?

I might spring for the newest and best, except you could find an incredible deal on a sixth era mini

Apple

In the event you merely need the latest-and-greatest iPad in its mini type issue variant, then the iPad mini seventh era is the way in which to go. It ships with a base storage configuration of 128GB, which is much extra palatable than the outgoing mannequin’s measly 64GB of beginning storage. Different perks embody the newfound potential to spec the system as much as 512GB, assist for the corporate’s newest Pencil Pro, and a processor that’ll be able to Apple Intelligence options upon arrival.

High Choose

iPad mini (seventh era)

Apple’s seventh era miniature-sized iPad, full with an A17 Professional chip for full-fledged Apple Intelligence assist.

If, then again, you wish to avoid wasting cash, and you are not fully bought on Apple Intelligence, then it is exhausting to go incorrect with the iPad mini sixth era. I might advocate springing for the 256GB mannequin, because the 64GB base unit merely is not passable at the moment. Simply make sure to examine throughout numerous retailers along with Apple’s personal Licensed Refurbished web site, to discover a itemizing that is decently effectively discounted.

iPad Mini (sixth era)

Apple’s sixth era iPad mini brings the iPad Professional-inspired redesign we have lengthy been ready for, alongside the A15 Bionic chip.

For these on the lookout for an iPad that is in a position to serve extra as a pc or PC substitute system, then you definately’ll wish to look elsewhere — neither of the fashions are ‘Professional’ in any sense of the phrase, regardless of the upcoming addition of Apple Intelligence. As a way to reap the benefits of Stage Manager — iPadOS’s window administration interface — you will as a substitute must buy both an iPad Air or an iPad Pro.

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