The new iPad Mini is the cheapest way to get Apple Intelligence and Apple Pencil Pro support

Apple has quietly launched a refresh of the iPad Mini. The new iPad Mini follows along the established looks of the older generation model but features the Apple A17 Pro chip that is used in the iPhone 15 Pro series. Thanks to this new chip, it also sports Apple Intelligence capabilities as and when the features go live. Of course, the new chip also brings in more raw power, with Apple claiming a performance increase of 30% for the CPU and 25% for the GPU compared to its predecessor.

Other new features include support for Apple Pencil Pro, which in turn brings features like pressure sensitivity, haptic feedback, and gesture controls. We also get Wi-Fi 6E support, faster USB-C data transfer, and an upgraded 12MP wide camera.

Starting at $499 for the 128GB variant, the new iPad Mini (2024) becomes the cheapest way to experience Apple Intelligence capabilities, as the iPhone 16 starts at $829 unlocked while the iPhone 15 Pro is no longer officially sold by Apple. Further, the previous cheapest iPad you could get with Apple Pencil Pro support was the 11-inch iPad Air with M2, which started at $599 for its 128GB storage variant. The cellular variant of the iPad Mini starts at $649 for 128GB, and the lineup is available in 256GB and 512GB variants too.

Pre-orders for the new iPad Mini begin today, while open sales and availability begin October 23, 2024. The iPad Mini (2024) comes in Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray colors.

As for the rest of the package, the iPad Mini retains all the familiarity of its predecessor. You get an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display.

This is a developing story. Please check back again later for more information.