Apple today introduced the new iPad mini, supercharged by the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence, the easy-to-use personal intelligence system that understands personal context to deliver intelligence that is helpful and relevant while protecting user privacy.

Apple’s A17 Pro is key to the essence of this tablet’s upgrade. To make that clear, Apple is calling it the iPad mini with A17 Pro, not iPad mini seventh-generation. The chip update means that it’s capable of running Apple’s take on AI, called Apple Intelligence, which arrives soon.

The first reviews for the new iPad mini are out, and the general consensus is that it's a relatively safe update that depends on Apple Intelligence to be worthwhile.

Apple announces a faster iPad mini for $499. It comes with Apple Intelligence and supports the Apple Pencil Pro.

The price for the Apple iPad mini 7 is the same as before, starting at $499 for the Wi-Fi version with 128GB of RAM, and $649 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant.

With its curved, iPhone 6-like body, thick top and bottom bezels at the front that are enough to land a jumbo jet, and hardware home button that also houses a Touch ID module. There's also the archaic Lightning port, making this one of the last iPads to feature Apple's proprietary standard.

The iPad mini 7 is here, equipped with the A17 Pro chip, Apple Pencil Pro support, and Apple Intelligence. When Apple redesigned the iPad mini in 2021 with flat sides and no Home Button, it changed the tiny-device game. That diminutive tablet is back with a host of upgrades aiming to make the best iPad -as-a-tablet even better.

Apple's most affordable iPad model will receive an update with Apple Intelligence capabilities in late 2025, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman

Apple's new iPad mini, featuring the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support, offers an affordable entry point to experience Apple's AI features.