tow.com

Apple announced the new 7th-generation iPad mini (A17 Pro) today. Equipped with the A17 Pro processor, this iPad mini is the first to support the new Apple Intelligence features coming in iPadOS 18.1.

A brief history of the iPad mini

People on Reddit forums and various blogs were hoping for a more substantial upgrade to the iPad mini, but history of the product line indicated a modest spec bump for this generation. Starting with the original iPad mini in 2012, Apple has demonstrated a trend for incrementally adding new features while revising the case design every two to three generations. For instance, the 2nd and 3rd-generation iPad minis had faster processors but used largely the same case design as the original. The 2nd-generation’s marquee feature was the inclusion of a Retina display, and the 3rd-generation replaced the Home button with a Touch ID sensor.

The 4th and 5th-generation iPad minis sported a slightly taller and wider case, although it was much thinner at 6.1mm. Whereas the 1st-generation iPad mini stopped at iPadOS 9, the 2nd and 3rd-generation iPad minis went up to iPadOS 12. The 4th-generation was supported for three more years, ultimately stopping at iPadOS 15. Released in 2019, the 5th-generation can still be upgraded to iPadOS 18 [1]. This model was also the first to support the Apple Pencil, but we’re talking about the 1st-generation Apple Pencil with the Lightning connector and not the newer USB-C or magnetically charged Apple Pencil (2nd-generation) and Apple Pencil Pro.

The 6th-generation iPad mini featured an all-new design reminiscent of the 2018-2022 iPad Pro lineup. It had an 8.3-inch edge to edge display. There’s no Home button, as the Touch ID sensor was combined with the Sleep Wake button. This iPad mini was shorter than the previous generation but also a little thicker. And, like the 5th-generation iPad mini, the 6th-generation is able to use Apple’s latest iPadOS 18.

Other improvements

Aside from the A17 Pro processor from the iPhone 15 Pro series, here is a list of additional improvements in the new iPad mini:

• 8GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence.
• Apple Pencil Pro support. 2nd-generation Apple Pencil is no longer supported.
• Wi-Fi 6E instead of Wi-Fi 6.
• Bluetooth 5.3 instead of Bluetooth 5.
• 128GB base storage, with options to go to 256GB and 512GB.
• e-SIM only, no more Nano-SIM slot.
• USB-C now supports transfer rates up to 10Gbps (from 5Gbps in the 6th-generation).
• Blue color has replaced pink. Purple color is more muted than previous generation.

Should you buy this new iPad mini?

I love the iPad mini lineup, and all of the ones I’ve purchased over the years are still in use:

• iPad mini (1st-generation): cat video player.
• iPad mini (4th-generation): MixEffect instance for Companion and Stream Deck.
• iPad mini (5th-generation): my wife’s primary computing device.
• iPad mini (6th-generation): my teleprompter and conference iPad.

Because it is not my primary device, I don’t see a strong need to upgrade to the 7th-generation iPad mini (A17 Pro). After all, I have plenty of devices that support Apple Intelligence, such as my iPhone 15 Pro Max, my two M1 and M4 iPad Pros, and my M2 Max MacBook Pro.

There were hopes that the 7th-generation iPad mini would come with an OLED display, ProMotion, no more display jelly scrolling in, and other fancy features, but it’s clear that Apple is following its iPad mini product playbook it’s developed over the past 12 years. People wanting more will just have to wait another two to three more years when the 8th-generation iPad mini is revealed.

Start the rumor mill for the iPad mini (8th-generation)

Will Apple do a full redesign to match the industrial design of the M4 iPad Pro, with its super slim case and light weight? Will a Pro model Or, Apple might surprise us by axing the iPad mini lineup in favor of its rumored foldable device. They’ve done it before with the iPod mini and the iPod nano. Raise your hand if you want to see an iPad nano in your future?

1. I suspect that at WWDC 2025, we will see iPadOS 19 drop support for the 5th-generation iPad mini.