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I’d imagine quite a lot of iPad mini 6 fans are a bit confused right now.
You wanted to see a new iPad mini. Now, we’ve got one; it just looks the same, does the same stuff, and doesn’t appear to have any of the new features you so badly wanted.
This is a buying guide to help you device if you should upgrade from the iPad mini 6 to the iPad mini 7 – I’m not going to delve into the intricacies of why Apple has done what it has done with this new version. If you want to read my thoughts on that, check out my full review of the 2024 iPad mini or watch my YouTube video.
If you just want to decide whether or not to upgrade – keep reading this page! I’ve broken down the buying decision into what I think are the most important questions.
Read My full iPad Mini 6 review
iPad Mini release date and price
The iPad Mini 7 will be released on the 23rd October 2024. It is available for pre-order now from the Apple Store.
The base model, 128GB iPad Mini 7 is priced at $499/£499. If you want 256GB, the price rises to $599/£599. The highest storage configuration is 512GB which costs $799/£799.
Upgrading from the base model to the WiFi + cellular iPad Mini 7 means you pay an extra $150/£150.
The most expensive iPad Mini 7 is the 512GB, WiFi + cellular model, which costs $949/£949.
Main differences at a glance
Major differences: – A17 Pro chip, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, Apple Pencil Pro support, Apple Intelligence support, larger storage capacity options
Major drawbacks: – Same camera, same display, same battery life, no FaceID
| Feature | iPad mini 7 | iPad mini 6 | iPhone Comparisons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Space Grey, Blue, Purple, Starlight | Space Grey, Pink, Purple, Starlight | – |
| Capacity | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 64GB, 256GB | – |
| Dimensions | 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 | 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 | – |
| Weight | Wi-Fi: 293 g; Wi-Fi + Cellular: 297 g | Wi-Fi: 293g; Wi-Fi + Cellular: 297g | – |
| Display | 8.3-inch Liquid Retina, 2266×1488 resolution | 8.3-inch Liquid Retina, 2266×1488 resolution | 16 Pro Max: 6.9-inch OLED (2868 x 1320), 460 PPI, 2000 nits (peak) |
| Chip | A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | A15 Bionic, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | iPhone 15 Pro: A17 Pro,6-core CPU, 6-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine iPhone 16: A18, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Apple Intelligence | Yes | No | |
| Rear Camera | 12MP Wide, 5x digital zoom | 12MP Wide, 5x digital zoom | 16 Pro Max: 48MP main (ƒ/1.78 aperture, sensor-shift OIS), 48 MP ultrawide, 5x optical zoom 16: 48MP main, 12MP ultra wide, 2x zoom |
| Front Camera | 12MP Ultra Wide, Center Stage | 12MP Ultra Wide, 122° field of view, Center Stage | 16 Pro Max: 12MP (ƒ/2.2 aperture) |
| Video Recording | 4K at 60fps | 4K at 60fps | 16 Pro Max: 4K Dolby Vision (24, 25, 30, 60, 100, 120 fps) |
| Audio | Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers | 16: Stereo speakers |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours, up to 9 hours (with Wi-Fi), 19.3-watt-hour | Up to 10 hours, up to 9 hours (with Wi-Fi), 19.3-watt-hour | 16: 22 hours video playback, MagSafe charging |
| Touch ID | Yes, integrated | Yes, integrated | 16: FaceID (first introduced in iPhone X (!) and used by all iPad Pro models from 2018 onwards) |
| Apple Pencil Support | Apple Pencil Pro, Pencil USB-C, hover | 2nd generation | – |
| Operating System | iPadOS 18 | iPadOS 15 | iOS 18 |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 | – |
| 5G Support | Yes (Wi-Fi + Cellular models) | Yes (Wi-Fi + Cellular models) | – |
| External Display | One external display with up to 4K resolution at 30Hz | One external display with up to 4K resolution at 30Hz | – |
Is the iPad mini 7 faster than the iPad mini 6?
Yes.
The new iPad mini has an A17 Pro chip. You’ve probably heard about it being a ‘binned’ version of the same chip that goes into the iPhone 15 Pro series phones. That’s true (it has one less GPU core) – but it doesn’t matter. Most people will never spot the difference.
The reality is that the A17 Pro in the iPad mini 7 is 30% faster in terms of CPU, and 25% faster in the graphics department, compared to the previous model. That adds up to quite a lot, and having tested it with a bunch of high-end apps and games, I can confirm that it performs well above its pay grade.
Is the iPad mini 7 display better?
No.
It’s the same as the display in the iPad mini 6. That means it still has 500 nits of peak brightness, a 60Hz refresh rate, and identically-sized bezels.
It’s the same display.
Does this matter? To most regular buyers of the new iPad mini, probably not.
For you, it might.
I wish it had ProMotion. The lack of a 120Hz-capable display does impede my enjoyment of the iPad mini somewhat – it occasionally makes it feel sluggish when it’s anything but. You get used to it, though, and if you don’t have another iPad with ProMotion, it’ll fast become what you’re used to.
However, if you were hoping to upgrade your iPad mini 6 based almost solely on the display alone, I’d stick with what you’ve got. You’ll be disappointed, otherwise.
Have they fixed jelly scrolling on the iPad mini 7?
Here we go. If there’s one question I’ve been asked more than any other about the new iPad mini, it’s this one.
The answer is simple: no, they haven’t. And if you don’t know what jelly scrolling is on the iPad Mini, it’s the impact of the display’s refresh rate when you scroll text-heavy content up and down. It appears to ‘wave’ as one side of the screen catches up with the other.
During my fairly lacklustre testing, I could still spot mild jelly scrolling on the new iPad mini. It looks like it has been tempered somewhat, but it’s still there. That isn’t surprising when this is the same display that’s in the iPad mini 6.
Does this matter? I’m pretty firm on this: no. Just like any visual defect that can only be surfaced when you undertake a particular motion, you don’t notice it unless you go looking for it. The only way you spot it is if you scroll up and down when there’s text on the page you’re viewing. Don’t most people read the text instead of doing that?
If you’re tempted by the iPad mini 7, please don’t let jelly scrolling be the deciding factor.
Do iPad mini 6 cases fit on the iPad mini 7?
They do indeed. The magnet arrangement on the rear of the iPad mini 7 appears to be identical to the iPad mini 6, so if you’ve got a bunch of cases and accessories you don’t want to lose, it’s good news.
What else has changed?
Suggesting that the iPad mini 7 is a tepid update is rather unfair. Apple has added a lot of very interesting stuff to this new device.
Firstly, there’s the big one – Apple Intelligence. When that arrives in your region, it won’t work on the iPad mini 6, but it will work on the new iPad mini. Apple Intelligence is a huge deal for Apple – they’re pinning a lot on it, and virtually every marketing campaign they’re currently running has Apple Intelligence as the central theme. It’s designed to be big, and if you’ve got an iPad mini that can handle it, you won’t feel left out.
The new iPad mini is also compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro – the iPad mini 6 isn’t. It’s a big upgrade over the second-generation Apple Pencil, thanks to the squeezy haptic thing and barrel roll. Just bear in mind that you’ll need to include the price of that particular accessory in your iPad mini upgrade budget if it’s important to you.
The iPad mini 6 has a maximum 5Gbps USB-C transfer speed, whereas the new iPad mini can hit 10Gbps. If you transfer a lot of data from your iPad mini to another device via cable, that’ll make a big difference. The same goes for the Wi-Fi – it’s now 6E, which is considerably faster than the iPad mini 6.
It’s worth noting that the new iPad mini is eSIM only this time around. I don’t think this is a big deal, but if you’re the sort of person who would rather deal with physical SIMs, it’s probably not a good idea to upgrade (although it would be a shame for that to be the deciding factor, wouldn’t it?).
The camera system is the same in terms of hardware, but the new chipset in the iPad mini means it supports Smart HDR 4, which should improve photos in certain conditions. If you’re an avid iPad mini photographer, you’ll spot the difference.
I use it for work – should I upgrade?
Since publishing my full review of the iPad mini 7 on YouTube, I’ve heard from a lot of pilots (there’s something I never thought I’d say) who have told me that they’ve been waiting for this iPad mini update.
As hinted by Apple in its marketing for the new iPad mini, this trouser-friendly tablet has been a hit within the aviation industry, thanks to its size, power, and one-handedness. Anyone who is using an iPad mini for, well, whatever it’s used for in aircraft cockpits, will probably require a new iPad mini with little changed. The fact that it will have a faster chip and access to Apple Intelligence will be the icing on the cake.
From what I can gather, these things get an absolute battering in that industry and, I’m sure, others. Although Apple hasn’t released any numbers to confirm this, I’d also guess that the corporate buyer is probably the largest customer segment for the iPad mini. That’s why we got this upgrade and not the bells and whistles requested by the iPad mini Fan Club (of which I’m still a member, by the way).
If you use your iPad mini 6 for work, it has probably been overcharged, the display is probably in a sorry state, and it’s possibly starting to feel a bit sluggish. A new, updated one, is, therefore, a no-brainer (if your procurement manager hasn’t already sorted you out).
Conclusion
This is simple. If you’re happy with your iPad mini 6, there simply isn’t enough on the table with the new iPad mini to make the upgrade worth it. Stick with what you’ve got.
If you want more power and Apple Intelligence compatibility, get the iPad mini 7.
I love simple conclusions.
Before you go
