The iPad mini 6 appeared almost two years ago. In the tech world, that is half an eternity. That is why there will probably be a successor this fall, the iPad mini 7. You should know this about it.
iPad mini 7: this is what we expect
The iPad mini is the smallest version of Apple’s tablet. The first version appeared in 2012 and since then there have been five updates. However, the biggest update came in 2021 with the iPad mini 6, when the old-fashioned design with borders and home button gave way to today’s modern iPad look.
Today, the iPad mini is just about Apple’s most controversial tablet. Some people like the small size, others think it’s more like an iPhone 14 Pro Max with lesser hardware and functions. Anyway, a lot of users are enthusiastic about the iPad mini, and they can look forward to a new version (if we can believe the statements of ShrimpApplePro). We look into our crystal ball and make a prediction of what will be new in the iPad mini 7. It may appear as early as September, together with the new iPhone 15.
A new chip (100% sure)
If there’s one thing that’s 100 percent certain for the iPad mini 7, it’s that it’s going to get a new chip. Undoubtedly more energy-efficient and faster, but which chip it will be exactly … that is less clear.
Two years ago, the mini received the best chip from the iPhone series at the time, the A15. According to iPhoned, the expected A17 chip with the 3 nm process therefore has the best chance. If Apple also wants to make the difference between consumer and professional products clear, the company will opt for the A16 that is now in the iPhone 14 Pro series. An M1 or M2 chip in the iPad mini 7? As much as we would like it ourselves, the chance of that is very small.
To arrive at that 100 percent, we divide the probabilities of the various options. 60% for the A17, 35% for the A16 and 5% for an M chip. Time will tell.
New screen with ProMotion (50% sure)
When the iPad mini 6 came on the market, there were soon complaints about the mediocre screen quality. Not in terms of sharpness or colors, but in terms of smooth reproduction. The iPad mini 6 suffers from jelly scrolling in which one half of the screen refreshes more slowly than the other. There is a good chance that Apple will fix that with the iPad mini 7.
An extra nice solution would be the introduction of a ProMotion screen (with 120 Hz). That screen offers much smoother images so that you will no longer notice that jelly scrolling – even though it still exists, technically speaking. Why is that questionable? ProMotion is currently reserved for the ‘professional’ Apple products. And the iPad mini 7 has always fallen somewhere between consumer and pro products. So: improved screen? Absolute. ProMotion? Just toss a coin.
Photonic engine on the iPad’s camera (75% sure)
Okay, okay, taking pictures on an iPad, you don’t. We like it iPhoned, but you have to know for yourself. But hey, given the sizes of phones these days, the iPad mini might be the one exception where we’d be okay with taking photos. And then this innovation comes in handy.
All iPhone 14 models already have the Photonic engine. What does that mean? We won’t go into the technical details, but by applying clever software and hardware tricks, the iPhone camera can adapt much better to the circumstances in which you take a photo. This way, photos simply become sharper, better exposed and therefore better. Without having to worry about the perfect camera settings.
Chances are that the iPad mini 7 will also get this photographic engine. Then with a single 12 MP lens.
A new design (0% sure)
What you don’t have to expect at all is a changed design of the iPad mini 7. It got that two years ago, and we even had the design for that for 9 years. The small tablet will not be more futuristic than now. That doesn’t count for other colors, of course, because we’ll see that happen again.
As well as other minor connectivity improvements such as Wifi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. But then again, they are like that no brainers that we haven’t even named them separately.
iPad mini 6 vs. iPad mini 7
We therefore assume that the iPad mini 7 will not differ greatly compared to its predecessor. On the one hand a pity, on the other hand a great opportunity to get an iPad mini 6 for a nice price. The small tablet is already reasonably discounted, but the price will only fall further around the release. Via the price comparison below you will always find the cheapest offer of the moment.
Apple iPad mini 2021 deals
View all deals