It’s a decent refresh. It keeps it up to date for another 3 years (if history is any indication) and adds Apple Intelligence support. iPad mini is mostly a content consumption device. It’s too small for serious productivity (hence there is no official Apple keyboard for it). There’s a reason this was a quiet press release launch and not an event launch.
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iPad Mini 7 Has These 6 Smaller Changes, Including a Faster USB-C Port
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HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Hooray!!! One step closer to Mini 9 or 10 to replace my 6. Unlike "the precious," iPad mini tends to have long use-life legs... that is, it doesn't seem to have the mysterious "long in tooth" effect of the cash cow Apple wants people to buy over and over again ASAP. The Mini 2 lasted 8 years. I expect the same from the 6. Thus, my next one is probably 9 or 10 in about 2029-2030.
Everyone who buys this 7- or the 6 at a discount- enjoy your new Mini. It's one of my favorite Apple devices. It even doubles as my phone (with VOIP app and buds). I use it every day.
Everyone who buys this 7- or the 6 at a discount- enjoy your new Mini. It's one of my favorite Apple devices. It even doubles as my phone (with VOIP app and buds). I use it every day.
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And eSIM only is a downgrade
Foolish question here but instead of software hdr why not give the iPad mini an hdr screen? Just seems off.
This seems similar to the AirPods Max 2 launch, IE, keeping up with the bare minimum standards to fall in line with the rest of their product lineup. Max 2 was USB C because they can't have one random mainline device using an older connector. Mini is A17 because they can't have one random device in their lineup that can't do AI like the rest of the devices in the market push.
That's it iPad Mini hardware was updated simply so it could run updated software, nothing more. No thought or passion from the team behind it... meet the quota.
That's it iPad Mini hardware was updated simply so it could run updated software, nothing more. No thought or passion from the team behind it... meet the quota.
Yes, I love my Mini 6 that I bought about 6 months ago. And unless the Apple Intelligence is a major game changer, I can see keeping it for another few years.
Apple chickened out at the last second and kept the price the same after seeing poor iPhone 16 sales. No courage.
Perfect replacement for Mini 5. Already ordered
Some people will be disappointed with this update, but to be honest, I'm surprised Apple stills sells the mini. I know people who work at the Brussels Apple Store and they tell me it sells terrible. Many of the people who are not sure what to get before their store visit get the regular iPad, some of them but not many come into the store with the intention of getting the regular model and end up leaving the store with the Air, some people who want the Pro also end up leaving the store with an Air and then there's lots of people who come in with the intention of getting the Pro and that's what they get. But I was told the mini sells poorly. So I'm very surprised Apple stills sells it, and it looks like Apple is still willing to update it every 4 years for the few people who like it.
What has the Porsche team been doing for decades? What company changes things more often than Apple? A long lasting design and iteration on it is the real innovation - not doing something radically new, just for kicks, every couple of years.
Major
Had they actually updated this device meaningfully it would have made me change my Cellular strategy (likely get another line just for the Mini) as right now I swap a SIM between my Mini 5 and an SE1 for various usages
Since they did what they did here though, no such problem exists as I'm not buying this iPad Mini 6.1
so, the camera is basically staying the same, no pixel increase? Oh well, no big deal. I guess I didn’t expect much, as I read somewhere that Apple will be updating the mini to OLED screens in a couple of years. I expect that’s when the big update to the mini will come. I basically needed the mini to take over some of the Use I have for my M2 since Apple doesn’t switch out batteries. I want my M2 to last, so I bit the bullet and have already ordered mine. I will say I was hoping for a pink, but had to settle for the blue.
I’m sure to get USB 3 speeds we have to buy another cable 
zero innovation. Zero.
They didn’t even bother to change the wallpaper. I remember the story when Steve Jobs made the Apple II team go through 39 versions of the "Shark" wallpaper for the Mac. Seeing this now, it feels like there’s nothing left of the old Apple.
They didn’t even bother to change the wallpaper. I remember the story when Steve Jobs made the Apple II team go through 39 versions of the "Shark" wallpaper for the Mac. Seeing this now, it feels like there’s nothing left of the old Apple.
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iPad mini Pro is long overdue.
I want all the same features as the 11” iPad Pro, but in an 8.3” tablet. Yes, even Magic Keyboard support. I know it would be cramped, but no more cramped than the on-screen keyboard already is.
I want all the same features as the 11” iPad Pro, but in an 8.3” tablet. Yes, even Magic Keyboard support. I know it would be cramped, but no more cramped than the on-screen keyboard already is.
iPad Mini and Pro are still using the camera sensor from iPhone XS/XR era. Lack of Night Mode tells us that. I can't imagine how cheap those sensors must be by now.
This does feel like someone just declared, "Okay team, update their stupid iPad mini, but don't make it more appealing than the other devices." Funny, I hope they do this for the iPhone mini someday. I'd love the same body with a new chip and more storage for when my current one dies.
I think it is great and I am looking forward to purchasing one on launch day.
Why not just have a smaller iPad Air variant?