The new iPad mini has an 8.3 inch display, A17 Pro processor, and WiFi 6E

Apple is giving its smallest iPad a big update. The new 7th-gen iPad mini looks nearly identical to the 6th-gen version that first launched in 2021. But the new model features an updated processor which brings a 30 percent boost in CPU performance, 25 percent faster graphics performance, and twice the AI performance. Apple says it’s the first iPad mini built for Apple Intelligence.

The new iPad mini is up for pre-order for $499 and up and should be available starting October 23.

At the heart of the new tablet is an Apple A17 Pro chip with a 6-core CPU featuring two performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine (which is Apple’s name for an NPU).

The iPad mini has an 8.3 inch, 2266 x 1488 pixel IPS LCD touchscreen display with up to 500 nits brightness, wide color gamut, and support for Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro, although those accessories are sold separately.

Storage options include 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of built-in storage, and the iPad mini is available in a choice of WiFi-only or WiFi + Cellular models. Both versions support WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, and the cellular models also support 5G sub-6 GHz network bands as well as 4G LTE.

Other features include a 12MP rear camera with support for 4K video recording, a 12MP ultra wide front-facing camera that tops out at 1080p, stereo speakers, dual microphones, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and a USB Type 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with support for 20W charging and 10 GB/s data transfer speeds.

Prices start at $499 for a WiFi-only iPad mini 7 with 128GB of storage or $649 for a WiFi + Cellular.

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