The newest iteration, the iPad Mini 7, hit the market in October 2024. Featuring a sleek, compact design, it incorporates advanced Apple Intelligence capabilities, making it the smallest iPad available. Currently, the iPad Mini is available at a discounted price of $399.99, down from its original price of $499, which is just shy of its lowest recorded price as per price-tracking platforms.

The iPad Mini 7 is powered by the innovative A17 Pro chip, which is also featured in the iPhone 15 Pro, making it a robust model just a step below the iPhone 16 series. It’s relatively recent at only a year and a half old, ensuring it remains relevant and will receive support from Apple for years to come. The performance leap from the previous model, the iPad Mini 6, is notable as the A17 is about 30% faster than the A15 Bionic chip. More impressively, it introduces Apple Intelligence features, such as notification summaries and AI-driven writing utilities. Users can also take advantage of the new Apple Pencil Pro, enjoy Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and start with 128GB of storage—double that of the base model of the iPad Mini 6.

The iPad Mini 7 holds true to its name, being the most compact tablet in Apple’s lineup, measuring 7.7 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches and weighing just 1.1 pounds. The display features an 8.3-inch screen with a sharp resolution of 2226 x 1448 pixels. According to PCMag’s review, users can anticipate around 7 hours and 23 minutes of battery life on a full charge. If someone already owns the sixth-generation iPad Mini, there may not be significant changes to justify an upgrade unless the latest features are a priority. However, for those seeking a compact device or wishing to upgrade to a newer model with cutting-edge capabilities, the iPad Mini 7 is currently priced lower than its predecessor, making it an enticing choice.