Apple refreshes iPad mini with A17 Pro chip, double the base storage and Wi-Fi 6E

15 October 2024
It retains the $499 base price and will go on open sale from October 23.

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Anonymous, 19 Oct 2024Talking nonsense as always. The AYN Odin 2 is a great devic... moreI don't know what to tell you, the AYN Odin2 is a tablet. It's just small, like the iPad Mini, and you get controllers for it. You haven't explored the points I raised at all.

Why would I frame things like this?
Because it is the most optimal for a consumer. Just think:
Apple, Google, Microsoft, Open-Source, Proprietary. There's lots of ecosystems. You do not want to be "locked" into any single one. Use cross-platform Apps and Services. But then how would we differentiate it? By form-factor of course!
If we just go by the screen, there are phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and TVs.

And the conclusion I came to last year was this:
Phone - AndroidOS - Google Pixel 8 Pro (Custom Roms, JungleCat attachment)
Tablet - iOS - Apple iPad Mini 7 (European Account, GameSir G8 controller)
Laptop - Windows OS - Frameworks 16-AMD Edition (basically a Gaming Notebook)
Desktop - Open-Source - Custom Build (AM5 build, ZorinOS dualboot)
TV - Proprietary - PlayStation (the upcoming PS5 Pro)

...now you have access to all the Apps and Services, in the most optimal way!

    potato4k, 19 Oct 2024LOL. Yeah, go ahead use that as a tablet. 🫤 See how far you... morePretty darn far.
    I actually regret not buying one, even had a discount code for the initial launch. But I didn't buy it because there was also the Valve Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally that could be in-consideration for space in my backpack.

    But I was holding out for the iPad Mini 7.
    They normally get refreshed every 1.5 years and at this point it was 2 years past. The rumour mill was saying M1 Chipset. That makes sense, and would've made it competitive from a value standpoint. My plan was to use it with a European Account, that way I can Sideload Apps. Basically it would emulate from the early Atari upto PSP, then brute-force the emulation for PS2, 3DS, GameCube, Wii, Xbox, PS Vita, and NSwitch. It just needed good controls and that's where the GameSir G8 gamepad comes in. All of that, and you get access to the Apple Ecosystem (AirTags!) and those Exclusive Apps.

    But seeing the price and performance of what Apple released, yeah no thanks.

      potato4k, 18 Oct 2024You still have not even named a single small Android tablet... moreBecause, as I said, it depends on what you need it for. In terms of performance and overall cost obviously the iPad Mini is probably the best. If that is not needed, just look elsewhere and you'll find enough tablets. I won't mention any because it makes no sense and depends on the individual. I can mention the XIAOMI Redmi Pad SE as an example, go show that even a cheap tablet offers way slimmer bezels, hell, it looks better too in my opinion. But obviously that is a much cheaper tablet. I'm not looking for a tablet so I am not the person that can provide the best answers.

      PS: As another guy said, the Lenovo Y700 is comparable. You just get a sleeker device overall with more screen real estate, modern bezels and 144 Hertz for the same price. And since iPad OS isn't that great, I'd even argue the OS difference doesn't matter either

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        • Anonymous
        • 70d
        • 19 Oct 2024

        potato4k, 18 Oct 2024You still have not even named a single small Android tablet... moreLenovo Legion Y700.

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          • Anonymous
          • 70d
          • 19 Oct 2024

          Kangal, 19 Oct 2024The AYN Odin2 is similarly small, competitively priced, and... moreTalking nonsense as always. The AYN Odin 2 is a great device, but it's not a tablet. Also, the screen size is only 6". It's not a competitor of the iPad mini or other tablets. The Steam Deck is an x86 PC. An M4 iPad mini wouldn't be an alternative at all.

            Kangal, 19 Oct 2024The AYN Odin2 is similarly small, competitively priced, and... moreLOL. Yeah, go ahead use that as a tablet. 🫤 See how far you can get.

              potato4k, 18 Oct 2024You still have not even named a single small Android tablet... moreThe AYN Odin2 is similarly small, competitively priced, and comes with a flagship chipset.
              Apple already introduced M-processors to its large (iPad Max) and medium (iPad Air) tablets, they have not done so for their small tablet. The M-line of tablets run very good, and have support for "Professional Apps" which has been promoted to big publishers.

              Ideally Apple should have released the iPad Mini 7 with the M1 processor back in Q1-2023. And potentially an upgrade to the iPad Mini 8 with the M4 chipset later in Q4-2026. I would have bought them. Just slap the GameSir G8 controller on it, and you can run exclusive iOS Apps and AAA-Games. It would be a neat alternative to the Valve Steam Deck.

              As it stands, moving from the A15 to the A17, is like upgrading from the QSD 865 (Q1 2020) to the QC 8g1 (Q3 2022). It an uninspiring upgrade, and more like a side-grade that took over 2 years to realise. An overclocked A18 Pro would have been good, or an underclocked M1 even better. I hope this makes sense.

                xPandamon, 18 Oct 2024How many people need that much performance on a tablet of t... moreYou still have not even named a single small Android tablet that is a competitor to the iPad mini. I rest my case.

                  potato4k, 18 Oct 2024Name one small Android tablet that can compete with the iPa... moreHow many people need that much performance on a tablet of that size? If that is not a priority (and for most people it isn't) there are plenty of alternatives. Also my complaint isn't about performance per se, but the advanced features of the M-Chips.

                    xPandamon, 18 Oct 2024Yeah, they have no competition to some extent, that's ... moreName one small Android tablet that can compete with the iPad mini. Heck name one that can compete with the 2021 iPad mini. The best Samsung has is running Helio G99. Like I said, ZERO competition.

                      potato4k, 17 Oct 2024Why should it come with an M chip? Any small Android tablet... moreYeah, they have no competition to some extent, that's why they can sell a worse A17 Pro and act like it's the same thing. Sure, scrolling down on the product page they mention that it has 5 GPU cores, but for most people that info alone is pointless. They don't even know that they are selling a defective chip from last year. About the M-Chip, the other iPads have it too and for the given purpose of this, they have their advantages. They just want to get rid of the defective units but didn't even have the honesty to clearly say this chip is lesser.

                      Also there are tons of small tablets, ones that are both thinner and offer more screen real estate or a slimmer overall footprint because of having bezels that aren't this big. For a compact tablet this is really chunky and outdated in design

                        xPandamon, 17 Oct 2024And? It's a binned chip, not even a proper A17 Pro. It... moreWhy should it come with an M chip? Any small Android tablets with snapdragon X Elite in it? Apple has zero competition in this segment, that’s why they can do minimal updates. People wanting a small tablet with decent performance have no other choice.

                          Azu10157, 16 Oct 2024Unlike an iPhone 16 Pro Max, you don't have to reach t... moreWho is comparing it to an iPhone but you? Nobody expects bezels that thin,but even half of this would be a noticeable improvement. You either get more screen real estate or the entire decide shrinks with less bezels. Both are desirable outcomes. Too bad Apple still does not care about providing a nice experience if it requires some effort

                            Anonymous, 16 Oct 2024Kinda disagree on bezels. They actually add usability as we... moreYes, but that doesn't require bezels this chunky

                              potato4k, 16 Oct 2024This thing is $500. The last device that used the A17 pro c... moreAnd? It's a binned chip, not even a proper A17 Pro. It should have come with an M-Chip, like the other iPads

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                                • Epicy
                                • 0Iy
                                • 17 Oct 2024

                                Your $200 Motorola device struggles running a YouTube video in 1080p. Also since when are iPads "note-taking devices"? They are and always been regarded as portable computers since 2010.

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                                  • DashF
                                  • CbJ
                                  • 17 Oct 2024

                                  Anonymous, 17 Oct 2024I don't know what's with you. Tablets have thick ... moreYour first point is exactly what I said. Accidentally touching the corners of screen is something you encounter in a curved screen phones, it's a no issue in tablets. Apple could easily cut off the bezels to make it smaller, but chooses to be greedy. $200 Motorola devices have thinner bezels

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                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 70d
                                    • 17 Oct 2024

                                    DashF, 17 Oct 2024You should ask yourself that question ? Have you ever faces... moreI don't know what's with you. Tablets have thick bezels, so it's unlikely that you will touch the screen unintentionally when you use one. Android tablets have thinner bezels but not much thinner.

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                                      • Anonymous
                                      • wHR
                                      • 17 Oct 2024

                                      Anonymous, 17 Oct 2024And your previous Apple pencil is no longer compatible.... ... moreapple pencil 2 release on 2018 , already 6 years , and everybody knows latest ipad support 2nd gen only ....


                                      r u born in 2023 ?

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                                        • Anonymous
                                        • 7X4
                                        • 17 Oct 2024

                                        And your previous Apple pencil is no longer compatible.... Lmao crapple milking $$$$ by making previous Apple pencil not work on latest iPads = ewaste.

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