The timing of the new release has taken many by surprise. Apple’s smallest iPad has a faster processor, more storage and support for Apple Intelligence.

The new iPad mini is powered by Apple's A17 Pro chip, which is used in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models. With a six-core central processing unit, the A17 Pro would boost CPU performance by 30% compared to the current generation iPad minis and is central to running Apple Intelligence, Apple's AI software.

Inside, however, a lot has changed. The new iPad mini is powered by Apple's A17 Pro chip (that's the one from Apple's iPhone 15 Pro), and comes with 128/256/512GB of storage memory, doubling the starting storage from previous generation.

The seventh-generation iPad mini looks likely to arrive in the coming days or weeks. Here’s everything we know.

Up until today, the M2 Mac mini was the cheapest way to try Apple Intelligence, but it’s not portable and needs extra peripherals to use, which ramps up the price. Mac mini aside, the iPhone 16 was the next cheapest entry point into the world of Apple Intelligence, but that device starts at $799 / £799.

If you’re a creative who uses the iPad for their work, you might wonder if the Apple Pencil is compatible with the iPad mini (2024). Fear not, for we crafted this guide to tell you whether the writing tool works for the seventh-gen model iPad mini.

We learned that AAA gaming with the iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Pro isn’t the most optimal, and it may be even worse with the iPad mini. Why? Let me explain.