Apple has officially introduced its next-generation iPad mini, now powered by the A17 Pro chip and integrated with Apple Intelligence, a personal intelligence system designed to enhance user productivity and privacy. The newly revamped iPad mini, available in four vibrant colors—blue, purple, starlight, and space gray—boasts an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and support for Apple Pencil Pro, elevating it as a must-have device for users seeking portability, power, and creativity.
Starting at $499, the new iPad mini is now available for pre-order, with deliveries beginning on October 23. “There is no other device in the world like iPad mini, beloved for its combination of powerful performance and versatility in our most ultraportable design,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With the powerful A17 Pro chip, faster connectivity, and support for Apple Pencil Pro, the new iPad mini delivers the full iPad experience at an incredible value.”
A17 Pro Chip Powers Unmatched Performance
The A17 Pro chip marks a significant upgrade for the iPad mini, delivering a 30% increase in CPU performance and a 25% boost in graphics performance over the previous generation. With a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, the iPad mini is designed for intensive tasks like photo editing, immersive augmented reality (AR) applications, and even AAA gaming experiences such as Zenless Zone Zero. The chip also introduces hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which is 4x faster than its software-based predecessor, bringing console-quality gaming to the ultraportable device.
Whether used by designers, doctors, or students, the A17 Pro transforms the iPad mini into a tool for professional-grade apps while maintaining its trademark portability. The device now offers hardware-accelerated mesh shading and dynamic caching, providing a richer experience for creatives and gamers alike.
Built for Apple Intelligence and iPadOS 18
The iPad mini introduces Apple Intelligence, a feature integrated with iPadOS 18 that leverages generative models to understand user preferences, simplify workflows, and offer personalized suggestions. Many of these intelligent features—such as Writing Tools for rewriting and summarizing text, and enhanced Siri with context awareness—run on-device, ensuring user privacy.
Apple Intelligence also enhances creative tasks with features like the new Image Wand tool, which transforms rough sketches into polished images. Meanwhile, in the Photos app, users can remove distractions from photos with the new Clean Up tool, and Memories allows users to create custom movies simply by typing a description.
Available later this month in a free iPadOS 18.1 update, Apple Intelligence will initially roll out in U.S. English, with more languages and features coming in the future.
Versatility and Connectivity On the Go
The new iPad mini is designed for both portability and connectivity. Equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, the iPad mini delivers twice the wireless performance of its predecessor, enabling faster downloads and seamless online gaming experiences. For users who need constant access to data on the move, the Wi-Fi + Cellular models with 5G offer easy connectivity via eSIM, which allows for multiple cellular plans on a single device. The iPad mini also comes with a USB-C port that is now up to twice as fast, enabling 10Gbps data transfers for quick imports of large files.
Enhanced Camera and Apple Pencil Pro Support
The 12MP wide back camera on the iPad mini delivers sharp and vivid images, powered by Smart HDR 4 for improved dynamic range. Machine learning features allow the camera to automatically detect and scan documents directly within the Camera app. On the front, the 12MP Ultra Wide camera supports Center Stage, making it ideal for video calls and content creation.
For creatives, the iPad mini now supports Apple Pencil Pro, which unlocks advanced capabilities. With precise control and haptic feedback, users can switch between tools, line weights, and colors without breaking their workflow. The pencil’s intuitive controls allow users to rotate the barrel to adjust pen and brush orientation, and it features Find My support for easy tracking. The iPad mini also supports the Apple Pencil (USB-C), offering a more affordable alternative for note-taking and sketching.
Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable Design
In line with Apple’s sustainability goals, the new iPad mini is designed with 100% recycled aluminum and rare earth elements. The device also meets energy efficiency standards and is free of harmful materials like mercury and PVC. Apple continues to push toward its 2030 goal of becoming carbon neutral across its entire product line, with the iPad mini leading the way in environmentally friendly design.
