iPad mini 7 vs 6: Here’s what’s upgraded plus buyer’s guide

Three years after the iPad mini 6 launch, Apple has delivered iPad mini 7. Following a major overhaul in 2021, the 2024 iPad mini keeps the same design and many of the same features but comes with the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support, a faster USB-C port, Apple Pencil Pro compatibility, and more. Here’s a detailed look at the iPad mini 7 vs 6 plus a buyer’s guide.

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In contrast to the annual iPad Pro and iPad Air updates, Apple has been updating iPad mini on a multi-year cadence.

Below we’ll cover everything new with the 2024 iPad mini 7. But in case you’re also considering the iPad Air or Pro we’ve got full comparisons on those:

• M4 iPad Pro vs M2 iPad Air: Is it worth the extra money?
• M2 iPad Air vs M1 iPad Air: What’s upgraded?

CPU/GPU, RAM, more

The iPad mini 7 jumps to the A17 Pro chip from the A15 Bionic in the iPad mini 6. That’s a notable improvement in overall CPU and GPU speed and as Apple highlights, is what allows it to support Apple Intelligence (same chip as iPhone 15 Pro).

Here’s what Apple says to expect with the CPU and GPU gains:

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A17 Pro delivers a 30 percent boost in CPU performance. A17 Pro also brings a boost in graphics performance with a 5-core GPU, delivering a 25 percent jump over the previous generation.

The A17 Pro chip should also mean a 2x increase in RAM to 8GB (as long as Apple matches what it used in the iPhone 15 Pro/A17 Pro chip setup – update: Apple is using 8GB RAM).

And the iPad mini 7 also features larger storage sizes with 128GB as the base tier.

Display

Apple continues with the same display in the 2024 iPad mini 7 as the 2021 iPad mini 6.

That means – unfortunately – no ProMotion 120Hz refresh which remains exclusive to the iPad Pro. But it’s still a solid Liquid Retina display.

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Pixels per inch remain the same at 326, higher than the 264 on the iPad Pro (or Air) but brightness remains lower than Pro models at 500 nits.

While the display itself is the same, the A17 Pro has enabled Apple Pencil Pro or USB-C support with Apple Pencil Hover.

iPad mini 7 vs 6 I/O

The move from Lightning to USB-C was big for the 2021 iPad mini 6. That opened up the ability to use the range of USB-C hubs and accessories out there, external drives, and more.

Now the 2024 iPad mini 7 comes with a 2x faster USB-C port that can do up to 10Gbps.

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Other I/O improvements include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, plus Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C.

Apple Pencil Pro support means you can use barrel roll, squeeze, haptic feedback, and Find My with iPad mini 7.

For all the details on how the Apple Pencil lineup and features compare, here’s our guide:

• Apple Pencil Pro vs USB-C, 2, and 1: What’s different?

Cameras

The rear 12MP camera and photo/video capabilities are almost identical between iPad mini 7 and 6. But Apple says the iPad mini 7 rear camera is improved with Smart HDR 4 for photos and better document scanning.

The iPad mini 6 landed with an ultra wide front camera with Center Stage auto-tracking. That lens and features remain almost exactly the same with the iPad mini 7 with the one update being Smart HDR 4 for photos.

Notably, the iPad mini 7 is now the only iPad to feature the selfie camera on the short bezel of the device while iPad Pro, Air, and iPad 10 have shifted the front camera to the landscape edge.

Colors, dimensions, battery

For weight, the iPad mini 7 is the same as mini 6 at 0.65 pounds, and dimensionally, it has the same footprint.

Battery life also remains the same at “up to 10 hours.”

Price and storage

Storage options have increased with the iPad mini 7. The starting tier is now 128GB and the top storage is doubled from 256GB to 512GB.

And for price, you’re getting more storage for the money with the iPad mini 7 128GB and 256GB models.

iPad mini 7 vs 6 buyer’s guide

Reasons to consider buying iPad mini 7:

• A17 Pro chip with Apple Intelligence support
• More RAM (likely 8GB)
• 10Gbps USB-C port (2x faster)
• Apple Pencil Pro support
• Most compact iPad

If those features aren’t compelling for you, keep what you’ve got or check out the iPad Air at similar prices.

Are you planning to upgrade to the new iPad mini? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Images via Apple