Apple's new iPad Mini
Apple unveils iPad mini with A17 Pro, Apple Intelligence, and Apple Pencil Pro support, starting at $499 for 128GB.
Four days ago, on October 15, 2024, Apple announced the release of its new iPad mini, featuring the A17 Pro chip and support for Apple Intelligence. This update to the compact tablet line introduces significant performance improvements and new AI-powered capabilities, maintaining its position as a versatile and portable device for a wide range of users.
Key features of the new iPad Mini
A17 Pro Chip: a leap in performance
The new iPad mini is powered by the A17 Pro chip, which delivers substantial performance improvements over its predecessor. According to Apple, the A17 Pro offers:
- A 30% boost in CPU performance with its 6-core design (2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores)
- A 25% increase in graphics performance with a 5-core GPU
- A 2x faster Neural Engine compared to the previous generation iPad mini
These enhancements enable the iPad mini to handle more demanding tasks, including running professional-grade applications and supporting immersive augmented reality experiences. The A17 Pro chip also brings hardware-accelerated ray tracing to the iPad mini, which Apple claims is 4x faster than software-based ray tracing.
Apple Intelligence: AI-powered features
Built on the power of the A17 Pro chip, the new iPad mini supports Apple Intelligence, a system designed to provide helpful and relevant AI-powered features while prioritizing user privacy. Some of the key Apple Intelligence features include:
- Writing Tools: Assists users in refining their writing through rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text across various apps
- Enhanced Siri: A redesigned Siri with improved language understanding and the ability to maintain context across multiple requests
- Photo Enhancements: New capabilities in the Photos app, including AI-powered movie creation and a Clean Up tool for removing distracting objects from images
Apple plans to roll out additional Apple Intelligence features in the coming months, including Image Playground for creating playful images, Image Wand for transforming sketches, and Genmoji for creating custom emoji.
Improved connectivity
The new iPad mini supports Wi-Fi 6E, offering up to twice the performance of the previous generation. Cellular models feature 5G connectivity and eSIM technology, allowing for easy activation and management of multiple cellular plans.
Enhanced camera system
The iPad mini's camera system has been upgraded with a 12MP wide back camera supporting Smart HDR 4 for improved photo quality. The device also utilizes machine learning to detect and scan documents directly in the Camera app.
Apple Pencil pro support
The new iPad mini is compatible with Apple Pencil Pro, which introduces new interaction methods such as squeeze detection for quick tool switching and barrel rotation for precise control. These features aim to enhance productivity and creativity for users.
Availability and pricing
The new iPad mini is available for pre-order starting October 15, 2024, with availability beginning on October 23, 2024. It comes in four colors: blue, purple, starlight, and space gray. Pricing starts at $499 for the Wi-Fi model and $649 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model, with storage options of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB.
Environmental considerations
Apple emphasizes its commitment to environmental sustainability with the new iPad mini. The device features:
- 100% recycled aluminum in the enclosure
- 100% recycled rare earth elements in all magnets
- 100% recycled gold plating and tin soldering in multiple printed circuit boards
- 100% fiber-based packaging
Key Facts
- Announcement Date: October 15, 2024
- Availability Date: October 23, 2024
- Starting Price: $499 (Wi-Fi model), $649 (Wi-Fi + Cellular model)
- Processor: A17 Pro chip
- Display: 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display
- Colors: Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray
- Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
- Key Features: Apple Intelligence support, Wi-Fi 6E, 5G connectivity, Apple Pencil Pro compatibility