Apple’s new iPad mini comes in two finishes, midnight and starlight, with 128GB, 256GB and 512GB of storage. Midnight is new to the iPad mini, and the storage size you pick changes the chip and the display options as well as the capacity.
Apple announced the iPad mini today, with pre-orders opening on Wednesday, October 28, and availability starting Friday, November 6. US pricing starts at $699 for the Wi-Fi model and $849 for Wi-Fi + Cellular.
The iPad Mini Comes in Midnight and Starlight With Matching Smart Folio Colors
Midnight is a new finish for the iPad mini, and starlight is the second option. The new Smart Folio comes in navy blue and taupe TechWoven fabric to complement both finishes.
The tablet measures 7.69 by 5.22 inches and is 5.4 mm thin, which is 14 percent thinner and 13 percent lighter than the previous iPad mini. It weighs 0.56 pound for the Wi-Fi model and 0.58 pound for Wi-Fi + Cellular, and the enclosure is 100 percent recycled aluminum.
Each Storage Tier Changes the Chip and the Display Options
The 128GB and 256GB models have a 5-core CPU and a single 16-core Neural Engine. The 512GB model gets a 6-core CPU and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, and Apple bases its CPU speed claims on that chip.
Nano-texture display glass is available only on the 256GB and 512GB models. That makes 256GB the smaller of the two sizes with the anti-glare finish and 512GB the only size that pairs it with the 6-core CPU.
Every tier shares the same 8.5-inch OLED display, 7-core GPU, 12MP cameras, Wi-Fi 7 and IP67 rating. The A20 Pro chip is built on a 2-nanometer process in all of them.
Apple notes that actual formatted capacity is less than the number on the box and varies with the software version, settings and iPad model, and it counts 1GB as 1 billion bytes. The box includes the iPad mini, a 1-meter USB-C charge cable and a 20W USB-C power adapter, plus a polishing cloth with the nano-texture glass option.
Free Engraving Does Not Change the Trade-In Value
Apple offers free engraving on the iPad mini, with a mix of emoji, names, initials and numbers. An engraved iPad mini can still be returned, and the engraving does not change its trade-in value when you upgrade.
Apple has also raised iPad and Mac trade-in values after the iPad mini launch. Trade-in credit applies toward a new iPad, and the value depends on the condition, year and configuration of the device.
