We finally got the iPad mini refresh, and it’s not particularly exciting. But that’s OK! It’s still a useful little tablet, and now thanks to the A17 Pro chip, it’s already ready for upcoming Apple intelligence features.
In this episode, Engadget deputy editor Nathan Ingraham joins to discuss what he liked about the new iPad mini, and what he hopes Apple will eventually improve in future models. Plus, we talk about Netflix dropping its AAA game studios and more than 10,500 artists signing a letter against AI training.
Apple refreshed the iPad mini last October with upgraded internals and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. This configuration has 128GB of storage and Apple’s A17 Pro chip. It also has 8GB of RAM, which is enough to support Apple intelligence features.
The device has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display that is sadly limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. The lack of a Face ID sensor and the lack of one of the M-series chips present in Apple’s flagship iPads are our other big gripes with this tablet.
But it’s a solid tablet otherwise. The iPad mini 7 runs on the same chipset as the iPhone 15 Pro and Apple has doubled the base storage from the previous generation. It weighs 0.65 pounds, so you won’t have too much trouble holding it in one hand.
The Touch ID sensor is built into the power button, and there are stereo speakers and decent cameras (12MP on each side). Like almost all other Apple devices these days, the iPad mini 7 has a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port. Speaking of which, the tablet should last up to 10 hours before needing a recharge. And although there’s no cellular connectivity here, the iPad mini 7 does support Wi-Fi 6E.
We may see upgrades to the entry-level iPad that will make it compatible with Apple intelligence. Gurman revealed that the next-generation iPad will have the A17 Pro chip and 8GB of memory. According to Gurman, this news should arrive in the spring along with the iPhone SE and new iPad Air models.