The new device maintains its signature ultraportable design and introduces support for Apple Pencil Pro, enhancing productivity and creativity for users on the go.
“There is no other device in the world like iPad mini, beloved for its combination of powerful performance and versatility in our most ultraportable design,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “iPad mini appeals to a wide range of users and has been built for Apple Intelligence, delivering intelligent new features that are powerful, personal, and private.”
The A17 Pro Chip
The A17 Pro chip marks a significant upgrade from the previous A15 Bionic, offering a 30% boost in CPU performance and a 25% increase in graphics capabilities. This advancement enables the iPad mini to handle demanding tasks such as photo editing, immersive augmented reality applications, and high-end gaming with ease. The device also supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, providing more realistic graphics for gamers.
Built into iPadOS 18, Apple Intelligence leverages generative models to understand and create language and images, streamline tasks across apps, and provide personalized assistance—all while safeguarding user privacy. Initial features include:
- Writing Tools: Users can refine text by rewriting, proofreading, or summarizing content across various apps like Mail, Notes, and Pages.
- Enhanced Siri: With improved language understanding and a new on-screen design, Siri offers more natural and flexible interactions, maintains context across requests, and now supports typed queries.
- Photos App Updates: The Memories feature allows users to create personalized movies by simply typing a description, and a new Clean Up tool helps remove unwanted objects from photos.
Additional features like Image Playground, Image Wand, and advanced Genmoji creation are slated for release in the coming months.
Major Improvements
The new iPad mini supports Wi-Fi 6E, delivering up to twice the performance of its predecessor, and offers 5G capabilities in cellular models. The USB-C port has been upgraded to support data transfers up to 10 Gbps, making file sharing faster than ever. The device is available in four finishes: blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, with new blue and purple options.
Equipped with a 12MP wide rear camera, the iPad mini now supports Smart HDR 4 for enhanced photo quality. Machine learning capabilities enable automatic document detection and scanning directly within the Camera app. The 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera supports Center Stage, ensuring users remain in frame during video calls and conferences.
The introduction of Apple Pencil Pro brings a suite of new features to the iPad mini. Users can activate a tool palette by squeezing the pencil, allowing for quick changes to tools, line weights, and colors. Haptic feedback provides a more intuitive drawing experience, and the pencil can be rolled to adjust tool orientation precisely. The Apple Pencil Pro attaches magnetically to the iPad mini for pairing, charging, and storage.
Changes with iOS 18
The iPad mini comes with iPadOS 18, offering features like:
- Calculator App: An all-new app designed for iPad, including basic and scientific calculators with a history function and unit conversions.
- Math Notes: Allows users to type or write mathematical expressions and see instant solutions, with the ability to create variables and insert graphs.
- Notes App Improvements: Smart Script technology makes editing handwritten notes more fluid, with real-time refinement for legibility.
- Audio Recording and Transcription: Capture lectures or conversations with synchronized transcripts for easy searching.
Compatibility
The new iPad mini starts at $499 for the Wi-Fi model with 128GB of storage—double that of the previous generation—and $649 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. Pre-orders begin today, with availability in stores and online starting October 23. Education pricing is available, starting at $449.
Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with the new iPad mini and is available for $129, with an education price of $119. The device also supports the Apple Pencil (USB-C) model, priced at $79.
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