New iPad mini has a downgraded A17 Pro chipset

17 October 2024
It looks like a binned version with a less powerful GPU.

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xPandamon, 18 Oct 2024Apple clearly advertised it as coming with the A17 Pro. See... moreShow me where in any official Apple documentation it’s states that in order to be called ‘Pro’ an SOC has to have exactly 6 GPU cores? I’ll save you some time, it doesn’t, it’s Apple’s iP and they are free to call it whatever they want. And Apple are not hiding any information here.

Now, is this a cost saving measure, sure, but I’m not arguing from a consumer prospective. As far as I’m concerned, those who don’t like it, shouldn’t buy it, simple as. My point is that this makes a whole lot of sense from a business perspective, they already have the part available, it’s still a highly capable part, and it represents a clear upgrade from the part it is replacing in the previous model (in this case the A15).

So again, it’s actually a logical move. You don’t need to like it of course, go buy something else for all I care. A couple of things I am confident off though is that the hit to performance from the missing gpu core won’t be noticed, it’ll still out preform its own predecessor and current lower cost members of the iPad line.
And it wouldn’t matter if Apple added the extra core, an extra six cores on top, the A18, or an M series chip, those who want a mini iPad will still buy this device and those who don’t, won’t.

If anything, the only complication this may cause is with the iPad 11. I can’t see them putting in the same chip as this new mini, but they need to get the whole product portfolio ‘Apple intelligence’ ready. So will be interesting to see what they end up doing there, and how it inevitably upsets a bunch of people who don’t like or use Apple stuff anyway 🤷


    DaFink, 17 Oct 2024So....are Apple advertising 5 gpu cores and providing 4 or ... moreApple clearly advertised it as coming with the A17 Pro. Seeing that it only has 5 GPU cores instead of the full 6 requires scrolling down. The lesser core count is mentioned but it isn't mentioned in any way that this is NOT a fully fledged A17 Pro. Other companies melt down the chips that don't fulfill the requirements or sell then under a slightly different name (Intel F-Chips, Samsung Exynos 2400e). It's simply scummy for no reason. As for the M-Chip, why not put one in? The other iPads have it too, after all. Those chips do offer some serious advantages when you want to use your iPad as some sort of workstation.

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      • Anonymous
      • 70d
      • 18 Oct 2024

      dude111, 17 Oct 2024It's still more powerful than any other tablet at this... moreLenovo Legion Y700.

        earworm, 17 Oct 2024For the first problem, import it. One of the big reasons it... moreThe second problem does exist. Do you actually expect people to continuously buy the same tablet year after year just to stay on the latest Android version? You're ridiculous. Only idiots who don't know how to manage their money properly would do that.

          xPandamon, 17 Oct 2024It's about Apple giving you less than advertised. Of c... moreIts Apple being Apple

            I would purchase a Redmagic nova tablet before this anyday.

            10.9 inch 144hz screen.
            12 gb ram 256 gb onboard.
            sd8g3 overclocked soc.
            499$

            The Standard SD8G3 is about the same as a normal A17 pro in cpu and much faster in GPU so the leading overclocked version destroy it.

            Its also has a real camera and selfy camera instead of an outdated one (even if most ppl don't need it)

              CargoJoe, 17 Oct 2024The minis have always used past generations chipset. Why th... moreGPU lower on count due to smaller screen & resolutions.

                Anonymous, 17 Oct 202460hz screen, 20 watt charge ...boom!Boom goes the dynamite

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                  • Anonymous
                  • mgK
                  • 17 Oct 2024

                  AnonD-1175487, 17 Oct 2024The what? lol If you are talking about the Lenovo tablet, ... moreJust buy it in Germany. I get things from Czechia sent over all the time.

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                    • Anonymous
                    • tRD
                    • 17 Oct 2024

                    Anonymous, 17 Oct 2024Having 60hz is like living in 2014, not 2024...I prefer 2014 60hz ips than 2024 hertz fuss.

                    I don't want a mirror 6742.398hz OLED 17899 nits screen for long time work. It's bad for eyesight. For me and many others.

                    @stop_the_fuss

                      AnonD-1175487, 17 Oct 2024The what? lol If you are talking about the Lenovo tablet, ... moreFor the first problem, import it. One of the big reasons it's popular is because you can get it for a good price from china, it also gets released in some western countries under a different name but for a much higher price.
                      The second problem doesn't exist because it gets a refresh every year. The latest one released not long ago and runs a sd8g3.

                        It's still more powerful than any other tablet at this size and price point.

                          CargoJoe, 17 Oct 2024The minis have always used past generations chipset. Why th... more2021 mini use the same chip as the pro iphone (13 pro)

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                            • Anonymous
                            • JH2
                            • 17 Oct 2024

                            So Apple is selling b-stock chipsets as A17 "Pro" for 500$?

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                              • Anonymous
                              • vaS
                              • 17 Oct 2024

                              AnonD-1175487, 17 Oct 2024The what? lol If you are talking about the Lenovo tablet, ... moreBut the Y700 had 3 variants already, 2022 to 2024, and all of them support stylus. Including the first one with was updated to use a stylus months after launch.

                              And why does it matter if people find it strange you bought an overseas product? China variant phones from Xiaomi, oppo etc are popular over Asia and no one judges the owner for buying them.

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                                • GAVR
                                • Kuf
                                • 17 Oct 2024

                                So the standard A18 chip is almost as "capable", if not more, than this "downgraded" A17Pro chip?

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                                  • Just me
                                  • SHp
                                  • 17 Oct 2024

                                  AnonD-1175487, 17 Oct 2024Still, majority of people will use their phones/tablets to ... moreIt's not 2020 anymore. 99% of the devices that have higher refresh rate screens are on their "adaptive mode" be default. Whitch in most cases (non LTPO) means 120hz when using it and 60hz idling.
                                  When Average Joe, coming from iPad Pro or Galaxy Tab S, starts playing with he will say that "it's laggy".

                                    They are just garbage company with colours for people with no taste.

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                                      • Yucam
                                      • GMX
                                      • 17 Oct 2024

                                      A17 Poor

                                        AnonD-1175487, 17 Oct 2024"I highly doubt anyone is going to be willing to pay m... moreI like how people on this site always try to use the tech people use as a measure of their intelligence. ironically, such simplistic thinking is itself not an indication of an abundance of intelligence 🤷‍♂️

                                        I actually choose to have faith that people will not be so pedantic as the average commentor on this site, and base their purchasing choices on a plethora of more meaningful factors......

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