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

2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and More

Thursday November 6, 2025 11:12 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the U.S., according to its website. Maximum values for most devices either decreased or saw no change, but the iPad Air received a slight bump. ...
Finder Siri Feature

Apple's New Siri Will Be Powered By Google Gemini

Wednesday November 5, 2025 11:57 am PST by
The smarter, more capable version of Siri that Apple is developing will be powered by Google Gemini, reports Bloomberg. Apple will pay Google approximately $1 billion per year for a 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model that was developed by Google. For context, parameters are a measure of how a model understands and responds to queries. More parameters generally means more...
Liquid Glass General Feature

Apple Shares Liquid Glass Design Gallery

Thursday November 6, 2025 2:45 pm PST by
Apple is promoting the new Liquid Glass design in iOS 26, showing off the ways that third-party developers are embracing the aesthetic in their apps. On its developer website, Apple is featuring a visual gallery that demonstrates how "teams of all sizes" are creating Liquid Glass experiences. The gallery features examples of Liquid Glass in apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. Apple...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday November 3, 2025 5:54 am PST by
Following more than a month of beta testing, Apple released iOS 26.1 on Monday, November 3. The update includes a handful of new features and changes, including the ability to adjust the look of Liquid Glass and more. Below, we outline iOS 26.1's key new features. Liquid Glass Toggle iOS 26.1 lets you choose your preferred look for Liquid Glass. In the Settings app, under Display...
airtag purple

Apple's Website Lists AirTag 4-Pack at Shockingly Low Price [Updated]

Friday November 7, 2025 6:40 am PST by
Apple's online store in the U.S. is suddenly offering a pack of four AirTags for just $29, which is the same price as a single AirTag. This is likely a pricing error, and it is unclear if orders will be fulfilled. Apple has not discounted the AirTag four-pack in any other countries that we checked. Delivery estimates are already pushing into late November to early December, suggesting...
apple watch se 3 always on

Apple to Remove iPhone-Apple Watch Wi-Fi Sync in EU With iOS 26.2

Thursday November 6, 2025 4:37 am PST by
Apple in iOS 26.2 will disable automatic Wi-Fi network syncing between iPhone and Apple Watch in the European Union to comply with the bloc's regulations, suggests a new report. Normally, when an iPhone connects to a new Wi-Fi network, it automatically shares the network credentials with the paired Apple Watch. This allows the watch to connect to the same network independently – for...
ikea smart home devices

IKEA Debuts 21 HomeKit-Compatible Smart Bulbs, Sensors, and Controls

Thursday November 6, 2025 4:08 pm PST by
IKEA today announced the upcoming launch of 21 new Matter-compatible smart home products that will be able to interface with HomeKit and the Apple Home app. There are sensors, lights, and control options, all of which will be reasonably priced. Some of the products are new, while some are updates to existing lines that IKEA previously offered. There are a series of new smart bulbs that are...
Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple's 2026 Smart Home Revamp: All the Rumors

Wednesday November 5, 2025 3:54 pm PST by
It's been over a decade since Apple's HomeKit smart home platform launched, and it is overdue for an update. HomeKit and the Home app can no longer keep up with AI-powered solutions from other companies like Google and Amazon, but that's set to change with a smart home revamp that Apple has planned for 2026. Home Hub Apple is working on a home hub or "command center" that will serve as a...

Top Rated Comments

turbineseaplane Avatar
14 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
14 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
14 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
14 months ago
”Much less noticable jelly scroll” It shouldn’t even have it from the beginning.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
14 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
14 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)