iPad Mini 7 Launches Tomorrow: Here Are 12 Changes to Know About

Earlier this month, Apple announced a new iPad mini for the first time in three years. Ahead of the device launching this Wednesday, we have outlined 12 new features and changes with the seventh-generation iPad mini compared to the previous model.

ipad mini 7 apple intelligence a17 pro feature
Here's everything new with the iPad mini 7:

  • A17 Pro chip: Introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro models last year, the A17 Pro chip is now available in the iPad mini 7, although it has a 5-core GPU instead of a 6-core GPU. Apple says the iPad mini 7 offers up to 30% faster CPU performance compared to the previous iPad mini with the A15 Bionic chip.
  • 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence support: The new iPad mini is compatible with Apple Intelligence, which will be available starting with iPadOS 18.1 next week. Geekbench results confirmed that the device is equipped with 8GB of RAM, the minimum requirement for Apple Intelligence. That's up from 4GB of RAM in the iPad mini 6.
  • Apple Pencil Pro support: The new iPad mini is compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro.
  • Apple Pencil hover: This feature lets you preview the Apple Pencil's stroke on the canvas before the accessory touches the screen.
  • "Jelly scrolling" fixed? Most reviews said "jelly scrolling" is much less noticeable or fully absent on the new iPad mini, but one prominent technology website disagreed, so we await teardowns for further confirmation.
  • Faster USB-C port: The USB-C port on the iPad mini 7 supports data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps, compared to 5 Gbps for the iPad mini 6.
  • eSIM only: All cellular models of the iPad mini 7 lack a nano-SIM card slot worldwide and instead rely solely on digital eSIM technology.
  • Wi-Fi 6E support: The new iPad mini supports the faster Wi-Fi 6E standard, which extends the capabilities of regular Wi-Fi 6 to the 6 GHz band. You will also need a router with Wi-Fi 6E support.
  • Double the base storage: iPad mini now starts with 128GB of storage, compared to 64GB for the previous model.
  • Final Cut Pro support: Final Cut Pro is compatible with the new iPad mini.
  • Improved HDR photos: The new iPad mini supports "Smart HDR 4," whereas the previous model supports "Smart HDR 3." Apple says Smart HDR 4 makes photos look "even more detailed and vivid."
  • "iPad mini" inscription: The new iPad mini has an "iPad mini" inscription on the back of device. Previous models of the device are inscribed with "iPad."
Related Roundup: iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
Alleged iPhone 17 Pro Antenna Design

Two All-New iPhone 17 Colors Seemingly Confirmed

Monday August 25, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple will offer the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max in a new orange color, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman made the claim in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, adding that the new iPhone 17 Air – replacing the iPhone 16 Plus – will come in a new light blue color. We've heard multiple rumors about a new iPhone 17 Pro color being a shade of orange. The ...
Awe Dropping Apple Event Feature

Five Things to Expect From Apple's 'Awe Dropping' September 9 Event

Tuesday August 26, 2025 4:17 pm PDT by
Apple today announced its "Awe Dropping" iPhone-centric event, which is set to take place on Tuesday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. There are a long list of products that are coming, but we thought we'd pull out five feature highlights to look forward to. That Super Thin iPhone - Apple's September 9 event will see the unveiling of the first redesigned iPhone we've had in years, ...
awe dropping event

Apple Event Announced for September 9: 'Awe Dropping'

Tuesday August 26, 2025 9:01 am PDT by
Apple will hold its annual iPhone-centric event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, according to an announcement that went out today. The event will start at 10:00 a.m., with select members of the media invited to attend. At the September 2025 iPhone event, Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 lineup, which includes an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air. It...
Awe Dropping Apple Event Feature

Apple Event Logo Hints at Two iPhone 17 Pro Features

Wednesday August 27, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
Apple's logo for its upcoming September 9 event hints at two rumored iPhone 17 Pro features, including new color options and a vapor chamber cooling system. Of course, this is all just speculation for fun, as we count down the final days until the event. New Colors Last month, Macworld's Filipe Espósito reported that orange and dark blue would be two out of the five color options...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3: Four Key Design Changes Anticipated

Tuesday August 26, 2025 4:05 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022 other than a shift from Lightning to USB-C, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple will launch AirPods Pro 3 later this year, and apart from new features like heart rate monitoring, we're also expecting a few design changes. The fourth‑generation AirPods offer useful clues to Apple's design cues for ...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 12 New Features

Sunday August 24, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max should be unveiled in a few more weeks, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman corroborated a rumor that iPhone 17 Pro models will be "available in an orange color." Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are...

Top Rated Comments

turbineseaplane Avatar
11 months ago

I have never understood who the mini is for? My phone is 6 inches. My iPad 10 is 11 inches. Who wants an iPad just bigger than a phone.? For me the iPad is for a big screen. And my iPad was half the price of this!
iPad Mini has 44% more screen area than even the iPhone 16 Pro Max

The different aspect ratio makes a huge difference
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lazyrighteye Avatar
11 months ago

I have never understood who the mini is for? My phone is 6 inches. My iPad 10 is 11 inches. Who wants an iPad just bigger than a phone.? For me the iPad is for a big screen. And my iPad was half the price of this!
That’s cool. Different strokes.
I used to carry a sketch book (Field Notes) and pen. My iPad mini 6 + Pencil 2 has completely replaced those long-trusted daily carries, while adding tons of functionality my previous scenario couldn’t. The form factor is perfectly portable - more so than an iPad. I’ve owned several iPads over the years - dating back to the OG. This mini 6 is easily my fav iPad I’ve used to date. And most used - I use it daily. I’m in the camp that would preorder an iPad Pro mini the moment it was announced. The 7 is an ok update, but not quite enough to get me to upgrade from my 6. Unless their AI turns out to be an unexpected game-changer, I’ll not upgrade. Yet.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DesertNomad Avatar
11 months ago

I have never understood who the mini is for? My phone is 6 inches. My iPad 10 is 11 inches. Who wants an iPad just bigger than a phone.? For me the iPad is for a big screen. And my iPad was half the price of this!
I use the mini in aviation. It is mounted on the yoke of the airplanes I fly and holds all the charts and approach plates. Larger iPads will not fit on the yoke.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Johnnyponken Avatar
11 months ago
”Much less noticable jelly scroll” It shouldn’t even have it from the beginning.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
11 months ago
Picking mine up tomorrow. A great upgrade (storage, RAM, smaller bezels, Apple Pencil Pro, etc) from my Mini 5.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
11 months ago

On the ends I guess, but not on the sides
I wouldn't want smaller side bezels. That's where my thumb and heel of my left hand go when holding it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)