Apple Reveals New iPad Mini Ahead Of Apple Intelligence Launch

The new iPad mini, like other Apple devices supported by the A17 Pro or newer chips, will support Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI features powered by custom generative models running on device or in the cloud that is set to debut in beta later this month.

Apple has revealed a new iPad mini that will support the company’s forthcoming Apple Intelligence features and use the same A17 Pro chip as last year’s iPhone 15 Pro models.

With availability set to begin a week from Wednesday and a starting price of $499, the new iPad mini, unveiled Tuesday, is expected to deliver a 30 percent boost in CPU performance, a 25 percent increase in graphics performance and a neural engine that is two times faster compared with the A15 Bionic-powered model that launched in 2021, according to Apple.

Apple said the new iPad mini, like other Apple devices supported by the A17 Pro or newer chips, will support Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI features powered by custom generative models running on device or in the cloud that is set to debut in beta with a subset of those features later this month. The company did not specify a date for the features.

Apple Intelligence will be deeply integrated within iPadOS 18, which debuted earlier this month, and features will range from a Writing Tool and a new Focus mode to an updated version of Siri, which can be prompted via text or voice to perform various actions.

Promising “all-day battery life,” Apple said the new iPad mini features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, adds support for the Apple Pencil Pro to enable new experiences and doubles the base storage to 128 GB from the previous generation.

The tablet’s 12-megapixel-wide back camera supports the Smart HDR 4 color format for “natural-looking photos with increased dynamic range” and machine learning to “detect and scan documents right in the Camera app,” according to the company.

The new iPad mini supports Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, allowing it to provide up to twice the connection speed of the previous generation, and Apple plans to sell a model that will also support cellular connections, including 5G. The tablet’s USB-C port is as much as two times faster than the previous generation, enabling data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps.

New features in iPadOS 18 include support for Apple Pencil to solve mathematical expressions in the Calculator and Math Notes apps, improved legibility for handwritten notes and the ability to edit handwritten notes in the Notes app, audio recording and transcription, the ability to schedule text messages in the Messages app, and a redesigned Control Center.

“iPad mini appeals to a wide range of users and has been built for Apple Intelligence, delivering intelligent new features that are powerful, personal and private,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of worldwide product marketing, in a statement. “With the powerful A17 Pro chip, faster connectivity and support for Apple Pencil Pro, the new iPad mini delivers the full iPad experience in our most portable design at an incredible value.”