Apple announces 7th generation iPad mini, with A17 Pro and Apple Pencil Pro support for around 70,000 yen
Apple announced the new 7th generation iPad mini on October 16, 2024. The chip is the A17 Pro, which is installed in the iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max, and will support Apple's proprietary AI system 'Apple Intelligence'. The price starts from 78,800 yen including tax and will be released on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
iPad mini - Apple (Japan)
Apple introduces powerful new iPad mini designed for Apple Intelligence - Apple (UK)
https://www.apple.com/jp/newsroom/2024/10/apple-introduces-powerful-new-ipad-mini-built-for-apple-intelligence/
The specifications of the 6th generation iPad mini and 7th generation iPad mini are as follows:
| iPad mini (6th generation) | iPad mini (7th generation) | |
| size | Height 195.4mm x Width 134.8mm x Thickness 6.3mm | Height 195.4mm x Width 134.8mm x Thickness 6.3mm |
| weight | Wi-Fi model: 293g Wi-Fi + Cellular model: 297g | Wi-Fi model: 293g Wi-Fi + Cellular model: 297g |
| display | 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology 2266x1488 pixel resolution, 326 ppi Refresh rate: 60Hz Up to 500 nits True Tone | 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display |
| On-board SoC | A15 -6-core CPU (2 high-performance cores + 4 high-efficiency cores) -5-core GPU -16-core Neural Engine | A17 Pro -6-core CPU (2 high-performance cores + 4 high-efficiency cores) -5-core GPU -16-core Neural Engine -Apple Intelligence support |
| camera | 12MP wide-angle camera 12MP ultra-wide-angle front camera | 12MP wide-angle camera 12MP ultra-wide-angle front camera |
| connection | USB-C Maximum transfer speed: 5Gbps | USB-C Maximum transfer speed: 10Gbps |
| Secure | Touch ID (built into the top button) | Touch ID (built into the top button) |
| audio | Stereo speakers (horizontal) Two microphones | Stereo speakers (horizontal) Two microphones |
| wireless | Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 Supports 5G communication (Wi-Fi + Cellular models only) | Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 Supports 5G communication (Wi-Fi + Cellular models only) |
| Apple Pencil | Compatible with 2nd generation USB-C | Pro, USB-C compatible |
| Storage | 64GB 256GB | 128GB 256GB 512GB |
| Body Color | Space Gray Pink Purple Starlight | Space Gray Blue Purple Starlight |
The 7th generation iPad mini has almost the same size and display as the 6th generation, and the maximum refresh rate remains at 60Hz.
There are no changes to the pixel count, aperture value, or zoom ratio of the camera, but the Smart HDR of the 12MP wide-angle camera on the back has been upgraded from HDR 3 to HDR 4.
The biggest change is the SoC installed, which has been upgraded to the A17 Pro installed in the iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max in the 7th generation. This will also support the AI system 'Apple Intelligence' that Apple plans to deploy in Japan after 2025.
Compared to the 6th generation iPad mini, the 7th generation iPad mini equipped with the A17 Pro boasts 30% improved CPU performance and 25% improved graphics performance, and supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which is four times faster than software-based ray tracing, as well as Dynamic Caching and hardware-accelerated mesh shading, allowing you to play AAA games.
The 7th generation model will have improved USB-C transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps, and wireless connections will support Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. In addition, it will support Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), allowing for hover operations.
The phone will be available in four colors: blue, purple, starlight, and space gray. The new color is blue, and the pink color that was available in the 6th generation is not included in the lineup.
The 7th generation iPad mini is available in two models: Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular. The 6th generation only had two storage options: 64GB and 256GB, but the 7th generation has three: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. The prices for each model are as follows:
| (Price including tax) | Wi-Fi model | Wi-Fi + Cellular model |
| 128GB | 78,800 yen | 104,800 yen |
| 256GB | 94,800 yen | 120,800 yen |
| 512GB | 130,800 yen | 156,800 yen |
Pre-orders for the 7th generation iPad mini have already begun at the time of writing, and in-store sales will begin on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
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in Hardware, Posted by log1i_yk