iPad mini 7 evaluation: Enhanced for artificial intelligence integration
The tech giant Apple has recently announced the seventh generation of its compact iPad mini, the iPad mini 7. This latest model promises improved performance, enhanced features, and a worthwhile investment for both new and existing users.
The iPad mini 7 is powered by the newer A17 Pro chip, a significant upgrade from the A15 Bionic chip in the previous model. The A17 Pro, built on a 3-nanometer process, delivers a 30% faster CPU and a 25% faster GPU, making it ideal for demanding applications like creative software.
In terms of design, the iPad mini 7 retains the same compact, all-screen design as its predecessor, featuring an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2266 by 1488 pixels and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor integrated into the top power button.
The display remains LCD, and while it does not upgrade to OLED or ProMotion, it offers up to 500 nits brightness and P3 wide color support. The iPad mini 7 also boasts faster USB-C data transfer, Bluetooth 5.3 support, and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity.
One of the most exciting features of the iPad mini 7 is its support for the Apple Pencil Pro. This stylus offers haptic feedback and advanced features like barrel roll detection, significantly enhancing the drawing and note-taking experience. The Apple Pencil Pro retails for $129.
The iPad mini 7 offers double the base storage of its predecessor, starting at 128GB, with additional options of 256 GB and 512 GB available. This makes it a perfect choice for those seeking a compact yet powerful tablet for creative work on the go.
The iPad mini 7 is priced similarly to its predecessor, with a starting price of $499 for the Wi-Fi version with 128GB of RAM, and $649 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant.
For current iPad mini 5th generation or earlier users, upgrading to the new iPad mini 7 is a no-brainer, as it offers significant improvements in performance and storage. However, for 6th generation iPad mini users, the decision to upgrade depends on whether the AI features and the enhanced Apple Pencil Pro support are desired.
The iPad mini 7 is available in four colours: Space Gray, Blue, Purple (lighter than before), and Starlight. The Pink variant is no longer available.
It's important to note that the iPad mini 7 is the first and currently only iPad mini to support Apple Intelligence, which includes features like Writing Tools, a smarter Siri, Clean Up tool for photos, Genmoji, and integrated ChatGPT, among others. However, Apple Intelligence is not currently available in Europe and China, and it won't be arriving there until 2025 (the UK is the exception, with AI arriving in December).
In typical usage (light reading and a bit of gaming, mostly at home), the iPad mini 7's battery life was never an issue. According to Apple's ratings, the iPad mini 7's battery life remains the same as before: 19.3 Wh battery, up to 10 hours of surfing on Wi-Fi, and up to nine hours of surfing on cellular.
In summary, the iPad mini 7's main advances over the 6th generation are the much faster, more efficient A17 Pro chip with Apple Intelligence capabilities, doubled base storage, and enhanced Apple Pencil Pro support. This makes it a powerful, highly portable tablet suited for creative work on the go, priced similarly to its predecessor. For those seeking the most compact iPad or any compact tablet, the iPad mini 7 is the best choice.
- The iPad mini 7, powered by the A17 Pro chip, offers a 30% faster CPU and a 25% faster GPU, ideal for demanding apps like creative software.
- The iPad mini 7 also supports the Apple Pencil Pro, which offers haptic feedback and advanced features for enhanced drawing and note-taking.
- Currently, the iPad mini 7 is the first and only iPad mini to support Apple Intelligence, offering features like Writing Tools, a smarter Siri, Clean Up tool for photos, Genmoji, and integrated ChatGPT. However, this feature is not available in Europe and China yet.
- The iPad mini 7 comes in four colors: Space Gray, Blue, Purple (lighter than before), and Starlight. The Pink variant is no longer available.
