After three lengthy years (and one lengthy month) of ready, Apple has lastly unveiled the Seventh-gen iPad mini. It did so at the moment in a press launch somewhat than holding a media occasion, and the explanations for this diffidence develop into obvious whenever you see how a lot, or somewhat how little, has modified.
The principle improve is the processor, which has double-jumped from the A15 to the A17 Professional (although with a 5-core GPU as a substitute of the 6-core GPU within the iPhone 15 Professional). Because of this {hardware} bump the brand new iPad mini helps Apple Intelligence—that presumably additionally means the RAM will enhance from 4GB to 8GB, though Apple doesn’t checklist the RAM specs for something apart from M-series processors. However nonetheless, it leaves the mini a good distance behind the iPad Air which was once its larger-screened equal and is now two generations into M-class Mac chips.
Past the processor improve, you need to look fairly exhausting to identify adjustments from the 2021 mannequin:
- It helps the newer Apple Pencil Professional (together with its hover characteristic) and drops assist for the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil.
- It begins at 128GB of storage somewhat than 64GB.
- Sensible HDR 3 has been upgraded to Sensible HDR 4.
- Wi-Fi 6 improves to Wi-Fi 6E.
- Bluetooth 5.0 is now Bluetooth 5.3.
- It now comes with an eSIM solely, and the nano-SIM slot has been eliminated.
- The charging port is USB 3.1 Gen 2, which helps speeds as much as 10 Gbps, twice as quick because the prior gen.
- It nonetheless is available in area grey, starlight, and purple, however pink has been changed with blue. And the entire colours are much less saturated and vibrant (as a result of who likes vibrant colours, proper?)
So to sum up, the bodily design is unchanged, which implies we nonetheless get a portrait-orientation FaceTime digital camera as a substitute of the far superior panorama design. The cameras are all the identical, though Sensible HDR 4 might imply they carry out barely higher in difficult lighting circumstances. It hasn’t joined the premium iPads in having access to the M chip household, or the choice to pay for 1TB of storage. It doesn’t get a Sensible Connector or its personal Magic Keyboard. Apple even used the identical wallpaper in advertising and marketing photos on its web site.
A minor replace, then. Let’s hope we don’t have to attend three years for the following mannequin. The brand new iPad mini is accessible to pre-order now and can ship on Wednesday, October 23. It begins at $499/£499.