Apple released the seventh-generation iPad mini in October 2024, bringing significant upgrades to its smallest tablet. The new iPad mini features the powerful A17 Pro chip, Apple Intelligence capabilities, and starts at $499 with double the storage of the previous model. This compact powerhouse maintains its popular 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display while adding support for the Apple Pencil Pro, giving creative professionals new tools in a portable form factor.
The 2024 iPad mini represents a major performance leap thanks to its A17 Pro processor, the same chip found in Apple’s premium devices. Users will appreciate the familiar design paired with modern features like Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and USB-C, making it both compatible with the latest accessories and future-proof for years to come. The tablet also includes a 12MP camera and all-day battery life, perfect for photographers and professionals who need reliable performance on the go.
Despite keeping its compact size, the iPad mini now offers a more complete Apple ecosystem experience with its support for Apple Intelligence. This AI system brings powerful features previously available only on larger devices to the mini format. The tablet maintains its position as the ideal option for users who need iPad capabilities in a smaller, more portable package without sacrificing performance.
Performance and Processing Power
Apple has taken a significant leap in performance with the 2024 iPad Mini, equipping it with the A17 Pro chip—the same powerful processor found in the latest iPhones. This upgrade delivers a 30% boost in CPU speed and a 25% enhancement in GPU performance over its predecessor. Whether you’re gaming, multitasking, or editing high-resolution photos, the iPad Mini 7 ensures smooth, efficient performance.
For casual users, this means faster app loading times and improved battery life, while for professionals and creatives, the device offers the horsepower needed for demanding applications, such as video editing, 3D rendering, and graphics-intensive gaming.
Display: Compact Yet Stunning
The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display remains one of the most attractive features of the iPad Mini. With a resolution of 2266 x 1488 pixels, it delivers crisp text, vibrant colors, and deep contrasts, making it an excellent choice for reading, watching movies, or creative work.
Apple has fine-tuned the display with True Tone technology and P3 wide color gamut, ensuring accurate color reproduction in all lighting conditions. The 500-nit brightness level provides excellent visibility, whether indoors or outdoors.
Storage and Pricing
Apple has doubled the base storage for the iPad Mini 2024, now starting at 128GB—a welcome upgrade for users who store a lot of photos, videos, and apps. The device also comes in 256GB and 512GB variants for those needing extra space.
Price Breakdown:
- 128GB – $499
- 256GB – $649
- 512GB – $799
These prices make the iPad Mini an attractive alternative to larger iPads while still offering premium features in a smaller form factor.
Apple Pencil Pro Support
For digital artists, note-takers, and productivity enthusiasts, the iPad Mini 7 now supports the Apple Pencil Pro. This means users can enjoy features like hover gestures, pressure sensitivity, and haptic feedback, making sketching and handwriting more natural than ever.
With the Magnetic attachment and wireless charging, keeping your Apple Pencil Pro ready to use has never been easier. This makes the iPad Mini 2024 a serious contender for creatives on the go.
Connectivity: Faster and More Efficient
Apple has significantly upgraded the iPad Mini’s connectivity options:
- Wi-Fi 6E: Delivers faster internet speeds, lower latency, and better connection stability, even in crowded areas.
- 5G Compatibility (Cellular Model): Ensures seamless streaming, ultra-fast downloads, and low-latency browsing.
- USB-C Port: Supports 10Gbps transfer speeds, making it easier to connect external storage devices, cameras, and accessories.
These upgrades ensure that the iPad Mini remains one of the most versatile compact tablets on the market.
Camera and Multimedia Capabilities
The iPad Mini 2024 features an upgraded 12MP rear camera with Smart HDR 4, delivering sharper images, enhanced details, and improved low-light performance.
For video calls and content creation, the 12MP ultra-wide front camera supports Center Stage, keeping you in focus even if you move around. Whether you’re attending a Zoom meeting, FaceTiming friends, or recording vlogs, the enhanced front camera makes a noticeable difference.
Stereo speakers provide a rich audio experience, perfect for streaming music, movies, and gaming.
Design and New Color Options
While the iPad Mini’s design remains similar to its predecessor, Apple has introduced new color options, including:
- Blue
- Purple
- Starlight
- Space Gray
The thin and lightweight design continues to make the iPad Mini one of the most portable yet powerful tablets available. Weighing just 293 grams (Wi-Fi model), it’s easy to carry anywhere.
Is the iPad Mini 2024 Worth It?
The 2024 iPad Mini is a significant upgrade for those who value portability without compromising performance. The A17 Pro chip, Apple Pencil Pro support, faster Wi-Fi, and improved storage make it a future-proof choice for users seeking a compact yet powerful tablet.
Who Should Buy It?
✔ Students & Note-Takers – Perfect for handwritten notes and digital textbooks.
✔ Creatives & Artists – Ideal for sketching and designing with Apple Pencil Pro.
✔ Travelers & Professionals – A compact powerhouse for on-the-go productivity.
✔ Gamers & Streamers – A solid upgrade for gaming and media consumption.
For those who prefer a larger screen, the iPad Air or iPad Pro might be better options, but if you want a premium, compact, and powerful tablet, the iPad Mini 2024 is an excellent choice.
Key Takeaways
- The 2024 iPad mini packs the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence in the same compact 8.3-inch form factor while starting at $499.
- Apple doubled the base storage and added support for Apple Pencil Pro, USB-C connectivity, and Wi-Fi 6E.
- The seventh-generation iPad mini offers all-day battery life and a 12MP camera in a portable design ideal for creatives and professionals on the move.
Design and Display
The iPad mini 2024 maintains its signature compact form while introducing several refinements to its visual appeal and screen technology. Apple has focused on preserving the beloved ultraportable design while enhancing the display quality and offering fresh color options.
Ultraportable Design
The 2024 iPad mini retains its sleek, ultraportable design that has made it a favorite among users seeking maximum mobility. At its core, the mini continues to deliver the full iPad experience in a compact form factor that easily fits in one hand or a small bag.
The dimensions remain consistent with the previous generation, featuring the same beloved design language that balances functionality with portability. This continuation of the established design shows Apple’s confidence in the mini’s form factor.
Despite its small size, the iPad mini doesn’t compromise on performance capabilities. The device maintains its thin profile while housing the powerful A17 Pro chip, making it both lightweight and capable of handling demanding tasks.
Liquid Retina Display
The 2024 iPad mini features an impressive 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2266 x 1488 pixels. This translates to a sharp 326 pixels-per-inch (ppi) density, delivering crisp text and vibrant images.
The screen incorporates True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts the display’s color temperature based on ambient lighting conditions. This feature reduces eye strain while providing more natural-looking images across different environments.
The display maintains excellent color accuracy and brightness levels, making it suitable for various tasks from reading and browsing to photo editing and gaming. Despite its compact size, the screen offers ample real estate for productivity and entertainment needs.
New Colors and Finishes
Apple has refreshed the iPad mini’s color palette for 2024, introducing new blue and purple options alongside the traditional offerings. These new finishes provide users with more personalization choices than ever before.
The color options now include:
- Blue (New)
- Purple (New)
- Starlight
- Space Gray
Each finish features Apple’s signature premium aluminum construction with a matte texture that resists fingerprints. The colored aluminum extends around the entire device, creating a cohesive and elegant appearance.
The new color options complement the mini’s design language and appeal to users looking for devices that express their personal style. Apple has carefully selected these hues to maintain a professional appearance while adding a touch of personality.
Hardware and Performance
The 2024 iPad mini represents a significant leap in capabilities with its new processor and enhanced technical specifications. This upgrade delivers substantial performance improvements for users who rely on the compact device for both everyday tasks and more demanding applications.
A17 Pro Chip
The iPad mini (2024) features Apple’s A17 Pro chip, marking a substantial upgrade from the previous generation’s A15 Bionic. This new silicon boosts overall performance with a 30% improvement in CPU speed and 25% faster GPU performance compared to its predecessor.
The A17 Pro is built on a 3-nanometer process, enabling better efficiency and power management. This allows users to run more demanding applications while maintaining excellent battery life.
Users will notice snappier performance in everyday tasks like web browsing, app switching, and media consumption. More importantly, the A17 Pro enables the iPad mini to handle professional applications that were previously challenging on the smaller iPad form factor.
Graphics Performance
The graphics capabilities of the 2024 iPad mini have received significant attention with the new A17 Pro chip. The enhanced GPU delivers fluid visuals across gaming and professional creative applications alike.
Games run with higher frame rates and more detailed graphics, even in visually demanding titles. Professional apps like Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, and LumaFusion now operate with noticeably improved smoothness when handling complex projects.
The upgraded display pipeline processes visual data more efficiently, resulting in better responsiveness when scrolling through photo libraries or editing high-resolution images. Video editors will appreciate the faster rendering times and preview capabilities.
Hardware-Accelerated Ray Tracing
For the first time in an iPad mini, hardware-accelerated ray tracing is available thanks to the A17 Pro chip. This technology creates more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections in compatible apps and games.
Developers are beginning to implement ray tracing in iPad applications, offering more immersive gaming experiences and better visualization tools for professionals. Architecture and design apps particularly benefit from the improved rendering capabilities.
The ray tracing performance is impressive for a device of this size, though it doesn’t quite match the capabilities of the iPad Pro line. Still, it’s remarkable to see this advanced graphics technology in Apple’s smallest tablet.
Neural Engine and Machine Learning
The 2024 iPad mini boasts a 16-core Neural Engine that can perform up to 35 trillion operations per second, significantly faster than the previous generation. This enhancement powers Apple Intelligence features and improves on-device machine learning capabilities.
AI-powered tools like text generation, image recognition, and voice processing now run more efficiently on the device. Photo editing applications can apply complex filters and adjustments in real-time, while language models respond with reduced latency.
The improved Neural Engine also enables better on-device privacy, as more processing can happen locally without sending data to cloud servers. Apps utilizing machine learning frameworks will continue to benefit as developers leverage this increased computational power in future updates.
The Neural Engine is especially important for the iPad mini’s future-proofing, as it’s now capable of handling upcoming Apple Intelligence features that will roll out through 2025 and beyond.
Camera and Photography
The iPad mini 2024 brings significant camera upgrades that enhance its photography capabilities. Apple has improved both front and rear cameras with advanced features that make this compact tablet more versatile for photographers and video creators.
12MP Wide Back Camera
The new iPad mini features a 12-megapixel wide rear camera, a notable improvement over its predecessor. This enhancement delivers better image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The camera hardware now supports improved low-light photography, allowing users to capture clearer and more detailed images even when perfect lighting isn’t available.
The A17 Pro chip powers the camera system, enabling faster image processing and enhanced computational photography features. Photographers can expect quicker autofocus and reduced shutter lag compared to the previous generation iPad mini.
When paired with photography apps, the iPad mini becomes a powerful tool for editing and managing photos on the go. Its USB-C connectivity allows photographers to connect external devices such as cameras and memory cards, making it easier to transfer and work with images directly on the tablet.
Smart HDR 4
Smart HDR 4 technology significantly improves the dynamic range of photos taken with the iPad mini 2024. This feature intelligently analyzes scenes and adjusts exposure to capture more detail in both highlights and shadows.
The system uses advanced algorithms to recognize people in photos and applies tailored adjustments to skin tones, ensuring more natural-looking portraits. Smart HDR 4 also handles complex lighting scenarios better than previous generations.
True Tone flash complements the Smart HDR capabilities by providing balanced illumination when needed. The flash adjusts its intensity and color temperature based on ambient light conditions to produce more natural-looking photos.
For photographers who shoot in varied lighting conditions, these improvements mean fewer washed-out highlights and muddy shadows. The result is more balanced, professional-looking images straight from the device without extensive editing.
Front-Facing Camera with Center Stage
The front-facing camera on the iPad mini 2024 includes Center Stage technology, which automatically keeps subjects centered in the frame during video calls. This feature uses machine learning to recognize people and adjust the frame accordingly, even as they move around.
The camera offers a 12MP ultra-wide field of view, capturing more of the scene while providing enough resolution for clear video calls and selfies. This makes it particularly useful for video conferencing, online classes, and virtual meetings.
Center Stage works across popular video conferencing apps, providing a more natural and engaging video call experience. The camera automatically zooms in or out to keep everyone in view, which is especially helpful for group calls.
For content creators, the improved front camera makes the iPad mini a more capable tool for vlogging and self-recording. Combined with the tablet’s portability, these enhancements make it a versatile option for mobile photography and videography setups.
Pencil Pro and Writing Tools
The iPad mini (2024) elevates the creative experience with its compatibility with Apple’s latest stylus technology. The tablet features a magnetic interface specifically designed for the Apple Pencil Pro, offering enhanced functionality for artists and note-takers.
Apple Pencil Pro Compatibility
The iPad mini (2024) works seamlessly with the Apple Pencil Pro, representing a significant upgrade in the tablet’s creative capabilities. Apple has incorporated a strong magnetic interface along the edge of the device that securely holds the Pencil Pro while simultaneously charging it.
This magnetic attachment system makes the stylus easily accessible when inspiration strikes. Users will appreciate the convenience of having their Apple Pencil Pro always ready and charged.
The iPad mini (2024) also maintains compatibility with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) which attaches magnetically to the side of the tablet. This backward compatibility ensures that users who already own the USB-C model can continue using their existing stylus.
Pressure Sensitivity and Precision
The Apple Pencil Pro offers exceptional pressure sensitivity when paired with the iPad mini (2024). This sensitivity allows for remarkably natural writing and drawing experiences, mimicking the feel of traditional writing tools.
Artists can create varying line weights by applying different levels of pressure, just as they would with traditional media. The precision of the Apple Pencil Pro makes it ideal for detailed work, from intricate illustrations to handwritten notes.
The A17 Pro chip in the iPad mini (2024) processes input from the Apple Pencil Pro with minimal latency. This responsiveness creates an immediate connection between the user’s actions and what appears on screen, eliminating the disconnect that often occurs with digital drawing tools.
Apple Pencil Hover Feature
The Apple Pencil Pro introduces a hover feature that works brilliantly with the iPad mini (2024). This technology detects the Pencil’s position above the screen before it makes contact, providing a preview of where marks will appear.
Artists and designers benefit from seeing exactly where their strokes will begin. The hover feature also enables new interaction methods in supported apps, displaying tool information or enlarging UI elements as the Pencil approaches the screen.
This feature particularly shines when working with precision tasks like photo editing or detailed drawings. The iPad mini (2024) shows a subtle indicator of the Pencil’s position, making it easier to place elements with pixel-perfect accuracy.
Software and User Experience
The iPad Mini 7 (2024) delivers a refined software experience that leverages its powerful A17 Pro chip. It comes with iPadOS 18 out of the box and supports Apple’s new intelligence features, making it more capable than previous generations.
iPadOS 18 Integration
iPadOS 18 introduces several enhancements specifically optimized for the iPad Mini 7’s compact form factor. The operating system features improved multitasking capabilities, allowing users to run multiple apps simultaneously with Stage Manager support.
Split View and Slide Over functions work smoothly on the 8.3-inch display, creating a productive workflow despite the smaller screen size. The Control Center has been redesigned with customizable modules that provide quick access to frequently used settings.
Notes app improvements include better handwriting recognition with Apple Pencil, making the iPad Mini 7 excellent for digital note-taking. Files app now supports external drives more effectively, addressing previous limitations in file management.
Apple Intelligence Features
The 2024 iPad Mini fully supports Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI system designed to enhance user experience across various applications. These features use on-device processing through the A17 Pro chip for privacy-focused AI capabilities.
Apple Intelligence helps summarize emails and notifications, allowing users to quickly grasp important information without reading lengthy content. The writing tools provide contextual suggestions for text correction and improvement, which is particularly useful for emails and documents.
Siri becomes notably more capable with Apple Intelligence, offering more natural conversations and contextually aware responses. Users can ask complex questions and receive helpful answers based on personal data and preferences.
Image generation capabilities let users create custom visuals directly on the device for presentations or creative projects. All processing happens on-device, maintaining privacy while delivering powerful AI features.
Dynamic Caching and Clean Up Tool
The new Dynamic Caching system optimizes storage use by intelligently managing cached data based on usage patterns. This ensures the iPad Mini 7 maintains performance even when storage space becomes limited.
The Clean Up Tool provides a comprehensive system for managing device storage with intelligent recommendations. It identifies duplicate photos, unused apps, and large files that can be removed to free up space.
Key Storage Management Features:
- Automated recommendations for storage optimization
- One-tap cleanup for temporary files and caches
- Scheduled maintenance options for ongoing optimization
- Visual storage breakdown by category
Background processes remove temporary files without user intervention, maintaining optimal performance. Users can configure cleanup preferences through Settings, with options ranging from conservative to aggressive storage management.
Connectivity
The new iPad mini 2024 offers significant upgrades in connectivity options, making it more versatile for users who need fast wireless connections and improved peripheral support. The device introduces several important technological advancements that enhance both its mobile capabilities and integration with other devices.
Wi-Fi 6E Support
The 2024 iPad mini makes a notable leap forward with Wi-Fi 6E support, delivering substantially faster wireless performance than its predecessor. This technology operates on the 6GHz band in addition to the traditional 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, providing less congested channels and improved speeds.
Users will notice reduced latency when streaming high-definition content or participating in video conferences. The expanded bandwidth is particularly beneficial in densely populated areas where network congestion is common.
For professionals who work with large files or rely on cloud services, the Wi-Fi 6E capability means more efficient uploads and downloads. The improved range and reliability also enhance the iPad mini’s usefulness as a portable workstation.
USB-C Port
The USB-C port on the 2024 iPad mini continues Apple’s shift away from proprietary connections, offering greater compatibility with a wide range of accessories and peripherals. This universal connector supports faster data transfer rates than older connections.
Users can connect external displays, cameras, audio interfaces, and storage devices directly to the iPad mini. This flexibility transforms the compact tablet into a more capable productivity tool.
The port also supports charging and can even provide power to compatible accessories. This bidirectional power capability makes the iPad mini more versatile in various workflows.
For photographers and videographers, the USB-C connection means easier importing of media directly from cameras and memory cards without requiring specialized adapters.
eSIM Technology
The 2024 iPad mini comes equipped with advanced eSIM technology, complementing the traditional nano-SIM slot for cellular models. This digital SIM capability allows users to activate cellular plans without physical SIM cards.
eSIM provides greater flexibility for travelers who can switch between carriers without swapping physical cards. Users can store multiple cellular plans on a single device and switch between them with just a few taps.
The cellular models of the iPad mini now support 5G connectivity, a significant upgrade from previous generations. This means faster mobile data speeds when away from Wi-Fi networks.
Bluetooth 5.3 is also included, offering improved connection stability and range for wireless headphones, keyboards, and other accessories. The enhanced Bluetooth technology provides better power efficiency, helping extend battery life when using wireless peripherals.
Storage and Battery Life
Apple has made significant improvements to the iPad mini’s storage capacity in the 2024 model. The new version now starts at 128GB, which is double the storage of the previous generation.
This upgrade to 128GB as the base storage option provides users with more space for apps, photos, videos, and documents without requiring an immediate upgrade to higher storage tiers. The increased capacity is particularly valuable for those who use their iPad mini for content creation or media consumption.
The iPad mini (2024) maintains Apple’s tradition of reliable battery performance. According to Apple, the device offers “all-day battery life” with approximately 10 hours of web browsing or video watching on Wi-Fi.
In real-world testing, the iPad mini 7 demonstrated impressive endurance. Lab tests involving continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi with the display brightness set to 150 nits showed the device lasting for 10 hours and 36 minutes.
Charging speeds remain relatively conservative, with the iPad mini (2024) featuring what reviewers describe as “slow charging.” Users should plan accordingly when needing to recharge the device quickly.
The combination of expanded storage and consistent battery performance makes the iPad mini (2024) a more compelling ultraportable tablet option, particularly at its starting price of $499.
Compatibility with Other Apple Products
The iPad mini 2024 offers seamless integration across Apple’s ecosystem, supporting the latest connectivity features and accessories. This compact device works particularly well with other Apple products, enhancing productivity and creative workflows.
Synergy with iPhone 15 Pro
The iPad mini 2024 and iPhone 15 Pro create a powerful duo thanks to shared technology. Both devices utilize high-performance chips that enable smooth handoffs between devices.
Users can start tasks on their iPhone 15 Pro and continue them on the iPad mini without interruption through Continuity features. This includes browsing, document editing, and creative projects.
AirDrop capabilities between these devices have been enhanced, allowing for faster file transfers. The shared USB-C port makes accessory compatibility more convenient.
The upcoming Apple Intelligence features will work across both devices, creating a cohesive experience. This AI integration will enable smart content creation and processing.
Both devices support the latest Apple Pencil Pro, making them ideal companions for artists and note-takers who use multiple devices.
Integration with iPad Air and iPad Pro
The iPad mini 2024 complements the iPad Air and iPad Pro models rather than competing with them. Each serves different use cases while maintaining ecosystem consistency.
Files, notes, and projects sync seamlessly between iPad models through iCloud. This allows users to work on larger iPad Pro screens when needed and switch to the mini for portability.
The shared accessory ecosystem is particularly valuable. The iPad mini 2024 now supports the Apple Pencil Pro, previously only available for iPad Pro models.
All current iPad models run iPadOS 18, ensuring feature parity across devices. This uniform operating system makes switching between iPad sizes effortless.
Universal Control enables users to work across multiple iPads with a single keyboard and mouse. This feature transforms the iPad mini into an excellent companion screen for iPad Pro users.
Additional Features
The iPad mini 2024 comes with several features that enhance its functionality beyond the core specifications. These include security options, improved orientation support, and new Apple Intelligence capabilities that make the device more versatile and user-friendly.
Touch ID
The new iPad mini maintains Touch ID integration in the top button, providing secure authentication without requiring Face ID sensors. This placement makes it easily accessible whether using the tablet in portrait or landscape mode.
Users can register multiple fingerprints for quick access, allowing different fingers or even family members to unlock the device. Touch ID on the iPad mini works with Apple Pay and password autofill features, streamlining online purchases and logins.
The sensor is responsive and accurate, with Apple claiming improved recognition speed compared to previous generations. For those concerned about privacy, biometric data remains encrypted and stored only on the device’s Secure Enclave, never uploaded to Apple’s servers or accessible to third-party apps.
Landscape Orientation Support
The 2024 iPad mini features enhanced landscape orientation support, making it more versatile for different usage scenarios. The front-facing camera now works optimally in landscape mode, centering users during video calls even when the tablet is held horizontally.
Control Center, notifications, and app layouts are better optimized for landscape use. This improvement addresses a long-standing user request and makes the mini more laptop-like when paired with accessories.
Apple has added landscape orientation to the Home Screen, allowing users to view and organize their apps horizontally. This feature previously existed on larger iPads but now comes to the mini form factor.
System menus and interfaces automatically adjust based on orientation, providing a more intuitive experience. Additionally, keyboard attachments work more naturally with the landscape orientation support, turning the compact iPad mini into a small productivity machine.
Genmoji and Image Playground
With Apple Intelligence integration, the iPad mini 2024 introduces creative tools like Genmoji and Image Playground. Genmoji lets users create personalized emoji characters based on text prompts or by customizing existing ones.
These custom emoji can be used in Messages, Mail, and other compatible apps. The creation process uses on-device machine learning to generate unique characters while maintaining user privacy.
Image Playground provides an AI-powered creative environment where users can generate images from text descriptions or modify existing photos. The tool offers various artistic styles and customization options.
Both features leverage the A17 Pro chip’s Neural Engine for on-device processing, ensuring creative tasks run smoothly without constant internet connectivity. Apple has designed these tools to respect copyright and avoid generating inappropriate content, with built-in safeguards and content moderation.
