Apple has quietly launched a new iPad mini, and no, it probably won’t blow your mind—but let’s be real, are we even surprised anymore? The big news here is that it’s powered by Apple’s blend of AI, grandly dubbed “Apple Intelligence.” Oh, and of course, it’s the “most powerful iPad mini yet” (like they’d release something weaker). This one comes with the fancy new A17 Pro chip and support for Apple Pencil Pro—because owning an iPad mini wasn’t expensive enough already, right?
On a serious note. I almost thought Apple was going to ditch this small form factor tablet because the last generation—aka the 6th generation iPad mini—was launched 3 years ago in ancient 2021. I know right? It was that year that took the leap and upgraded from iPad mini 3rd generation.
The iPad mini (7th generation) is sleek, with an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, and comes in a palette of eye-catching finishes, including a brand-new blue and purple. The A17 Pro chip promises big performance boosts, including a 30% faster CPU and a 25% faster GPU than the previous model. Whether you’re editing photos, gaming with ray tracing, or just scrolling through social media, this mini is supposed to handle it all with ease.
Apple’s signature AI integration, creatively named Apple Intelligence, is designed to anticipate your every need (or so they say) while making sure your privacy is protected. It’ll rewrite your texts, enhance your photos, and even help you summarize documents, all while making you feel like you’re in control of the robot overlords taking over your device.
And for those who are into digital art or note-taking, the Apple Pencil Pro works with this mini marvel, adding a whole new dimension to your sketching or doodling. You’ll get haptic feedback, control tool orientation, and even hover to see your next stroke before you make it. Just make sure to keep an eye on that US$129 price tag for the Pencil.
The new iPad mini starts at US$499, with pre-orders already open and shipping set to begin on October 23. So, if you’ve got a burning need to stay ultraportable and AI-equipped, it might just be the upgrade you’ve been waiting for. Or not.
Images: Apple, Inc.