The iPad mini 7 has been highly anticipated following the success of its predecessor, the sixth-generation tablet released in 2021. With a sleek design reminiscent of the iPad Air and iPad Pro, enhanced performance with the A15 Bionic chip, and support for the Apple Pencil, the iPad mini 6 set the bar high for its successor.
The new iPad mini 7 is now available for pre-order starting on October 15, 2024, with an official launch date set for October 23, 2024. Customers in 29 countries, including the US and UK, can get their hands on this latest iteration of the popular tablet.
In terms of pricing, the iPad mini 7 starts at £499/$499 for the Wi-Fi-only model, with the Wi-Fi + Cellular model starting at £649/$649. It comes with a minimum of 128GB of storage, double the capacity of the previous generation, with options for 256GB and 512GB configurations. Additional accessories such as the Apple Pencil Pro and Smart Folio are available for purchase.
Design-wise, the iPad mini 7 retains the compact and portable form factor of its predecessor, with four available finishes: blue, purple, starlight, and space grey. It also now supports the Apple Pencil Pro, allowing for easy storage, pairing, and charging.
The display remains the same at 8.3 inches with advanced technologies like True Tone and P3 wide color gamut for vibrant visuals. While the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz, the display supports the Apple Pencil Pro for enhanced drawing and note-taking capabilities.
Performance-wise, the iPad mini 7 is powered by the A17 Pro chip, offering a 30% boost in CPU performance and a 25% improvement in graphics performance compared to its predecessor. With options for 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, the tablet can handle demanding applications and multitasking with ease.
The cameras on the iPad mini 7 have also been upgraded, with a 12MP wide rear camera supporting Smart HDR 4 for enhanced image quality. The 12MP ultrawide front camera includes features like Center Stage for video calls and document scanning.
Battery life is touted as ‘all-day’ with faster data transfers via the upgraded USB-C port. The iPad mini 7 runs on iPadOS 18, introducing advanced features powered by Apple Intelligence for seamless integration and enhanced creativity.
Overall, the iPad mini 7 builds upon the success of its predecessor with incremental improvements in design, performance, and features. It remains to be seen how this latest iteration will fare in comparison to the best iPads and tablets on the market.
