New iPad mini vs previous iPad mini: What’s completely different?

Apple has lastly given the iPad mini a refresh. The iPad mini (2024) options an upgraded processor and assist for Apple Intelligence (Apple’s AI answer). We check out how the brand new iPad mini compares to the mannequin it replaces and take into account whether or not you can purchase the brand new mannequin or hunt round for a reduced 2021 model. 

Design & Construct

Apple hasn’t completed a lot to replace the externals of its smallest iPad, because the iPad mini (A17 Professional) to present it its full, awkward title, is just about similar to its predecessor the iPad mini (sixth gen). By way of measurement they each share the 195.4 mm (7.69 inches) x 134.8 mm (5.3 inches) x 6.3 mm (0.25 inches) dimensions, and even the load has stayed the identical at 293 grams (0.65 kilos) for the Wi-Fi model and 297 grams (0.66 kilos) if you wish to add the mobile choice. For the latter, it must be eSIM as the brand new iPad mini now not helps the Nano-SIM choice from the earlier mannequin. 

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Each accommodate an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina show and have the Contact ID sensor constructed into the facility button. You get USB-C ports throughout the board, and the battery life can be the identical with Apple stating that it’s best to count on as much as 10 hours when watching video by way of Wi-Fi. 

There’s the identical digital camera appointments and format, the identical stereo audio system, microphones, and a magnetic connector lets you safe your Apple Pencil, though the brand new iPad mini solely works with the Apple Pencil Professional or Apple Pencil (USB-C) (so for those who wished to carry over your Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) from the older iPad mini (2021) you’re out of luck). Fortunately, any circumstances you already personal ought to nonetheless match simply the identical. 

Apple

As normal, there’s no waterproofing within the iPad mini, so don’t get it moist. 

One noticeable distinction is the color-schemes on supply. Whereas the iPad mini (2021) got here in Starlight, Purple, Pink, and Area Gray, the brand new mannequin drops the Pink in favor of a brand new Blue livery and there’s additionally a barely lighter Purple. 

Show & Audio system

As talked about earlier, it appears that evidently the show within the new iPad mini (A17 Professional) is similar as on the older mannequin. Which means you get a completely laminated 8.3-inch Liquid Retina panel that runs at a decision of two,266×1,488 and 326 ppi. SDR brightness tops out at 500 nits, with Extensive colour (P3), True Tone, and an anti-reflective coating. One small distinction, which we count on is all the way down to the processor, is that the brand new mannequin helps Apple Pencil Hover for the Apple Pencil Professional. 

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There’s no ProMotion assist on the brand new iPad mini (nor was there with the older model), which may very well be unhappy information for anybody who thought the Professional chip would possibly carry the Professional function. Apple nonetheless refuses to present its non-Professional units the 120Hz refresh charge that’s commonplace on different units. 

Stereo audio system occupy the shorter edges of the gadget, which, as said in our overview of the 2021 mannequin, regardless of being a step up from the fifth gen iPad mini as a result of having two outputs, “the sound high quality itself has not improved considerably”. 

One factor that has been upgraded this time round is Bluetooth, which strikes from Bluetooth 5.0 within the iPad mini (2021) to Bluetooth 5.3 within the new variant. This could enhance connections with Bluetooth audio system and headphones. 

Specs & Efficiency

The principle differentiator between the brand new and previous minis comes from the processor. Three years is a very long time in tech, and the A15 Bionic chip within the 2021 mannequin is exhibiting its age. To ensure that the brand new iPad mini to run Apple Intelligence (the corporate’s AI suite of instruments), it requires a beefer little bit of silicon. This comes within the type of the A17 Professional chip, which is similar because the one used within the iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional Max. 

Whereas each chips are comprised of 6 CPU cores  (2 efficiency, 4 effectivity), 5-core GPUs, and 16-core neural engines, Apple states that the newer model is 30% quicker for CPU efficiency and delivers a 25% GPU efficiency improve in comparison with the A15 Bionic. There are additionally varied positive factors for gaming efficiency, which you’d count on from a chip that’s a few generations newer than its counterpart. 

It’s not solely the silicon that will get a lift although, as Apple has lastly determined to up the base-line storage allocation from the 64GB within the 2021 mannequin to 128GB for its 2024 alternative. There’s additionally a 512GB choice on the brand new mannequin if you’d like a capacious quantity of storage in your iPad mini.

Principally, the brand new iPad mini (A17 Professional) is quicker and has extra onboard storage then the older mannequin, two issues that may be essential for iPads if you’d like them to final a very long time. 

Right here’s a breakdown of the technical specs for each fashions;

Cameras

The cameras within the two iPad minis are once more virtually similar, albeit with a minor improve on the brand new one. In each you get the primary 12MP f/1.8 Extensive digital camera, that encompasses a True Tone flash, 4K/60fps video recording capabilities, 3x video zoom, Digital zoom as much as 5x, and Slo-mo video assist for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps. The one distinction is that you simply now get Good HDR 4 for photographs, as an alternative of the Good HDR 3 that got here on the 2021 mannequin. 

Apple

It’s an analogous story with the front-facing digital camera, which is an Extremely Extensive f/2.4 digital camera that takes 12MP photographs. You a 2x zoom out, which permits for the Middle Stage function that retains you in the midst of the body on video calls, plus there’s a Retina Flash with True Tone, Prolonged dynamic vary for video as much as 30 fps, Cinematic video stabilization, and 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps. Once more, the newer gadget has Good HDR 4 for photographs, somewhat than the Good HDR 3 that featured on the 2021 iPad mini. 

Connectivity

There are a number of spec bumps within the connectivity division, with the brand new variant providing Bluetooth 5.3 (the 2021 has 5.0) Wi-Fi 6e (2021 has 6), GPS, USB-C and for those who plump for the mobile mannequin then you definitely’ll get 5G (sub-6GHz) regardless of the era you select. So, it’s an all-round replace for the iPad mini (A17 Professional). 

Apple Intelligence

One of many predominant promoting factors that Apple is pushing today is for the Apple Intelligence AI instruments. These embrace instruments that assist you enhance your writing and might summarize textual content for you. Updates to Siri that enable it to be extra useful normally, plus varied enhancing instruments in Pictures to take away background objects and allow you to create dwelling films simply by utilizing prompts. 

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The iPad mini (A17 Professional) can use Apple Intelligence, nevertheless it gained’t be obtainable on the iPad mini (2021) as a result of {hardware} constrictions. If you wish to play with Apple’s AI software program, then you definitely’ll want the brand new iPad mini, an iPad Air or iPad Professional, a M-series Mac, an iPhone 15 Professional/Max, or an iPhone 16-series telephone to take action. 

For extra on what it has to supply, you’ll be able to learn our information to Apple Intelligence. 

Value & Availability

You should purchase the iPad mini (A17 Professional) now on the Apple Retailer or from any good tech retailer. The costs are as follows;

• iPad mini (A17 Professional, Wi-Fi) 128GB: $499/£499 (Initially £569)
• iPad mini (A17 Professional, Wi-Fi) 256GB: $599/£599
• iPad mini (A17 Professional, Wi-Fi) 512GB: $799/£799
• iPad mini (A17 Professional, Wi-Fi+Mobile) 128GB: $649/£649
• iPad mini (A17 Professional, Wi-Fi+Mobile) 256GB: $749/£749
• iPad mini (A17 Professional, Wi-Fi+Mobile) 512GB: $949/£949

Listed below are the most effective offers we’ve discovered for the brand new iPad mini: 

With Apple releasing the brand new iPad mini (A17 Professional), it has formally discontinued the iPad mini (2021), so that you gained’t have the ability to purchase it on the Apple Retailer (until yow will discover a refurbished mannequin). 

As a information, on its preliminary launch, the iPad mini (2021) price the next. As you’ll be able to see the worth modified a number of instances within the U.Okay.

• iPad mini (2021, WiFi) 64GB: £479/$499 (initially £479, then £569, then £499)
• iPad mini (2021, WiFi) 256GB: £619/$649 (initially £619, then £749, then £749, then £649)
• iPad mini (2021, Wifi+mobile): 64GB: £619/$649 (initially £619, then £749, then £749, then £649)
• iPad mini (2021, Wifi+mobile): 256GB: £759/$799 (initially £759, then £929, then £799)

One of the best offers for the iPad mini (2021) proper now comply with – notice that the brand new fashions have twice as a lot storage, so be sure to are evaluating like with like.

Ought to I purchase the iPad mini (A17 Professional)?

With such an extended hole between to 2 units, and the introduction of Apple Intelligence, it’s straightforward to suggest the iPad mini (A17 Professional). It’s the identical acquainted iPad mini you understand, however now with a quicker processor, extra storage, plus a number of nips and tucks right here and there. In the event you see the previous mannequin on a killer deal, then it’s solely value contemplating if the worth actually displays the quantity of storage on supply. We’d suggest that you simply pay the additional to get the brand new mannequin as it’s sufficient of a step as much as make it value the additional cash. 

To see what different choices Apple has for you, check out our iPad consumers’ information by which we evaluate all the present fashions.