Here's When to Expect Apple Intelligence to Launch on the New iPad Mini

Just like iPhone 16 models, the new iPad mini is likely to launch without Apple Intelligence, but the features should be available on the device soon.

ipad mini 7 feature
Geekbench results for the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip list the device as running iPadOS 18.0, instead of iPadOS 18.1 with Apple Intelligence.

Last month, a private account on social media platform X with a proven track record of sharing upcoming iOS versions mentioned a special build of iPadOS 18.0 for the iPad mini 7, and it appears that the device will indeed come preinstalled with iPadOS 18.0 out of the box when it begins arriving to customers on Wednesday, October 23.

Fortunately, new iPad mini owners shouldn't have to wait too long for Apple Intelligence. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this week reiterated his expectation that iPadOS 18.1 will be released on Monday, October 28, so Apple Intelligence should be available on the new iPad mini merely five days after the device launches.

Apple's press release for the new iPad mini had already mentioned that the first Apple Intelligence features would be available on the device starting with an iPadOS 18.1 software update this month, and now the situation is fully clear.

The first Apple Intelligence features include writing tools, notification summaries, and more.

Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
Tim Cook WWDC 2018

Report: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO 'as Soon as Next Year'

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:40 pm PST by
Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO of the company "as soon as next year," according to the Financial Times. The company's board of directors and senior executives "recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins," the report said. While the report said that Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, it went on to ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket Now Available to Order, But Already Selling Out

Friday November 14, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. iPhone Pocket is available to order on Apple's online store starting today, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, it is already completely sold out in the United...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple m5

Apple's 2026 Mac Plans

Friday November 14, 2025 3:23 pm PST by
Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio. MacBook Air (Early 2026) The MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The MacBook...
best early black friday deals

Best Black Friday Apple Deals Live Now - Save on AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watches

Saturday November 15, 2025 1:45 pm PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
tvOS 26 Profiles

tvOS 26.2 Adds a Useful New Feature to Your Apple TV

Friday November 14, 2025 10:02 am PST by
Starting with the upcoming tvOS 26.2 update, currently in beta, additional profiles created on the Apple TV no longer require their own Apple Account. In the Settings app on the Apple TV, under Profiles and Accounts, anyone can create a new profile by simply entering a name and indicating whether the profile is for a kid. The profile will be associated with the primary user's Apple Account,...
walmart new ornametns

Walmart Black Friday Deals Begin Today With Low Prices on Headphones, TVs, and More

Friday November 14, 2025 7:55 am PST by
Walmart's Black Friday sale has officially kicked off today, with an online shopping event that's also seeing some matching deals in retail locations. There are quite a few major discounts in this sale, including savings on headphones, TVs, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Walmart. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us...
CarPlay Pinned Messages

iOS 26.2 Adds New CarPlay Setting

Thursday November 13, 2025 6:48 am PST by
iOS 26 extended pinned conversations in the Messages app to CarPlay, for quick access to your most frequent chats. However, some drivers may prefer the classic view with a list of individual conversations only, and Apple now lets users choose. Apple released the second beta of iOS 26.2 this week, and it introduces a new CarPlay setting for turning off pinned conversations in the Messages...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 3

Monday November 17, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
Apple provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming iOS 26.2 update, and there are still new features that are being added with each beta that we get. We've rounded up all of the changes that Apple made in beta 3. AirDrop Apple added new AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add one another as contacts. iOS 26.2...

Top Rated Comments

abatabia Avatar
14 months ago
I’m going to be harsh here but this is just embarrassing at this point with the “rollout” of AI. Why the rush to release this iPad if it was just a press release? Wait until the end of the month when 18.1 is supposed to release. It’s been three years, would two more weeks really matter? Or, don’t advertise how it’s “built for apple intelligence” when it’s not here yet. Just silly.

Your opinion may differ.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
14 months ago

Hard disagree. I want a better Siri ASAP!
"something went wrong"
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iamgalt Avatar
14 months ago

I’m going to be harsh here but this is just embarrassing at this point with the “rollout” of AI. Why the rush to release this iPad if it was just a press release? Wait until the end of the month when 18.1 is supposed to release. It’s been three years, would two more weeks really matter? Or, don’t advertise how it’s “built for apple intelligence” when it’s not here yet. Just silly.

Your opinion may differ.
"wait till the end of the month when 18.1 is released" mean's that's when they would be able to load the OS onto the iPads, then they'd have to package them, then ship them out all over the world, and then put on sale. If they waited till they could release them with 18.1, it would be a delay of at least a month, if not more. Releasing it now, gets a little bit of buzz happening and raises some excitement for the new features. While I see where you're coming from with the "built for apple intelligence" phrase, I think it's pretty clear that they mean it's "apple intelligence ready" for when it does come out, unlike many iphones, ipads, and macs. Plus there are some people who don't want to upgrade to 18.1 because they don't want AI stuff. Not that Apple is catering to this group specifically, but more people may buy it knowing they don't have to have the AI features on the latest iPad Mini.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MNWildFan Avatar
14 months ago

Exactly. Just release it all at once. This isn’t working.
I agree

I absolutely hate how in recent years Apple has adopted the strategy of announcing features but releasing them in phases

If you've had all the time to conceptualize of all them, then why not just spring them all on us at once???
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spock Avatar
14 months ago
This is really getting old, they are selling these new devices like the lackluster iPhone Pro without the feature they are using to sell the things.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
paradox00 Avatar
14 months ago

I’m going to be harsh here but this is just embarrassing at this point with the “rollout” of AI. Why the rush to release this iPad if it was just a press release? Wait until the end of the month when 18.1 is supposed to release. It’s been three years, would two more weeks really matter? Or, don’t advertise how it’s “built for apple intelligence” when it’s not here yet. Just silly.

Your opinion may differ.
My opinion differs. I give Apple credit for one thing: knowing how to make the most money possible. If they believe a staggered release ahead of Apple AI will make them more money, they are probably right.

Most people aren't following as closely as those here, and staggered releases keeps Apple in more press cycles and the iPad mini doesn't get lost in the news about new Macs or AI coming to iPhones. Losing 2+ weeks of pre-christmas sales more than offsets any "embarrassment" they may feel. Even as a consumer, it's better they release them now. If you want to wait for AI before buying one, you're free to do so, but there's no need to make everyone else wait too.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)