Apple has quietly announced the iPad Mini 7, available for purchase starting October 23.
The tablet features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The design remains unchanged from 2021, but the aluminum body is now offered in four new colors: Space Gray, Blue, Pink, and Starlight.
Powered by the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro, the iPad Mini 7 boasts a 30% performance boost over its predecessor.
It now supports the Apple Pencil Pro, which includes new features like haptic feedback and gesture controls.
Connectivity is enhanced with Wi-Fi 6E, ensuring faster and more stable connections. iPadOS 18 introduces Apple Intelligence capabilities, enhancing the device's smart features. The main camera now includes Smart HDR 4 technology for improved photo quality.
The iPad Mini 7's port supports data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps. The camera app has been upgraded to recognize documents and utilize flash to reduce shadows.
Despite these upgrades, the design, display, and battery remain the same. The 64GB model has been removed, with a new 512GB option available. RAM has been increased to 8GB, and it comes with a 20W USB-C charger. Prices range from $449 to $949.
However, the iPad Mini 7 exhibits similar slow charging speeds as its predecessor, taking 1 hour to reach 70% and 2 hours for a full charge. The 20W fast charging capability mirrors that of the iPad Mini 6, resulting in lower charging speeds compared to some Android tablets.