The 2024 iPad miniskirt has just been updated for the first time in three years , and yet , for some of the product ’s heavy fan , it ’s a act of a disappointment . The accuracy is , other than the processor , very little has changed from the 2021 model .
Apple ’s newfangled tendency to name iPads after the processor they contain means that this new merchandise is formally the 2024 iPad mini ( A17 Pro ) . It ’s a mouthful , but it also luff out the fundamental contradiction in terms that has bothered so many iPad mini fans : eventually , there ’s an iPad mini with “ Pro ” in its name , but it ’s only the name of the chip it contains . The iPad miniskirt itself remains a notch below the iPad Air in Apple ’s priority inclination .
Apple Intelligence expediency
The most queer aspect of the product is that it uses the A17 Pro , a C.P.U. used in only one other production : last class ’s ( now discontinued)iPhone 15 Pro . The A17 Pro is base on an abandoned , dead - end 3 nm chip fabrication process ( the same one used in the M3 CPU ) that has been replace with a next - multiplication 3 nm unconscious process ( the one used in the M4 , A18 , and A18 Pro CPU ) .
What this probably think of is that the iPad mini is probably powered by chipping that go to qualify to be used in the iPhone 15 Pro but are being used – with one GPU burden disabled – in the new iPad mini , rather than being thrown off . From a price - rescue and waste - prevention point , it ’s a savvy move by Apple . But I can understand being a small less enthusiastic about being powered by another Apple product ’s reject , and it also seems to set up a definitive crownwork on how many iPad minis can be made : Once they reach the bottom of the A17 Pro bin , that ’s in all likelihood the end of this version mathematical product .
The unexampled iPad mini is likely using A17 Pro chips that were binned during the iPhone 15 Pro production trial .
The new iPad mini is likely using A17 Pro chips that were binned during the iPhone 15 Pro production run.
Foundry
Then again , peradventure that ’s not such a terrible prospect . cerebrate of it this way : Apple require all of its devices to supportApple Intelligenceas soon as they can . This update to the only chip prior to this downslope that supported Apple Intelligence does the caper . If you want to do some iPad mini wish casting , consider that this might mean the iPad miniskirt wo n’t have to expect three more twelvemonth for its next update .
the right way now , Apple ’s in a tight topographic point when it come to upgrading the iPad miniskirt : the A18 processor is new , and credibly all its volume is being used to plunk for theiPhone 16 , and using it would have belike required a downgrade in USB speeds on the iPad mini ; the M2 chip used in theiPad Airis really a generationolderthan the A17 Pro and also has much greater power requirement that belike would have need much larger revisions to the iPad mini ’s internals ; and , again , here ’s a bin of unused A17 Pro chips that were being made to use in Apple ’s gamey - end iPhone just a few months ago .
The new iPad mini is likely using A17 Pro chips that were binned during the iPhone 15 Pro production run.
So , maybe this is really just a matter of doing the expedient thing and waiting for a more substantial iPad miniskirt update afterwards .
Reasons to be sad
The current iPad mini make full several interesting niches as a diminutive , reading - focussed gimmick . However , those who are let down can make some strong argument .
The current iPad mini colour offerings
to make them fun again .
The current iPad mini color offeringsas so meh. Apple needsto make them fun again.
Apple
A equipment like the iPad mini that ’s already great for reading could likely use a well silver screen . It would need an improved refresh rate ( 60Hz is starting to sense really jerky ) , better colors and contrast ( OLED , anyone ? ) , and dramatically ameliorate silver screen light and glare diminution . An iPad is never going to be a Kindle , but it could still be right smart practiced for take poolside .
The last beat of iPad minis was also fun , with bright colors that really fit the “ this is a cute widget to keep around the house ” vibe . Apparently , citizenry were ingest too much fun because someone broke into Apple ’s color science laboratory and pour a tank full of boring into the iPad vats . The new blue color looks silver , and the newfangled purple gloss look silverish . Starlight is just silvery with a scandalmongering tinge . It ’s just so dull .
Reasons to believe
Suppose you ’re uncoerced to conform to me through the attend glass . In that type , I require to make a surprising marriage proposal about the future of the iPad miniskirt : There is a novel iPad mini get in the next few age , and it ’s go to be awesome – and very expensive . But , again , awesome .
That ’s because the next iPad mini … might be a fold iPhone .
Would n’t it be awesome to have an iPhone that folded out to create , in essence , a fresh sort of iPad miniskirt ?
Think about it : The iPad mini is great because it runs iOS but is wanton to carry and treat due to its small size of it . Now consider rumors that Apple is working on folding versions of the iPhone . Would n’t it be amazing to have an iPhone that folded out to create , in pith , a Modern form of iPad mini ?
Such a gadget would be a fortune , but consider the pro features it might contain . A ProMotion silver screen with OLED would be a given , but I opine you ’d also require to let in Apple Pencil support . It would undoubtedly have a good photographic camera than the current iPad miniskirt .
The more I think about Apple ’s approach to foldables being a gateway to an iPad - like equipment , the more I empathise why Apple might prefer to keep the iPad mini as an affordable ware that ’s dependable than the base iPad but not quite as strong as its penny-pinching cousin , the iPad Air .
So cheer up , iPad mini devotee . You ’ve got a new good example that support Apple Intelligence . Its life is likely unnaturally limit by chip availability , so there may be a right update come down the road . And if you really , really want a snazzy pro - plane iPad miniskirt , it might be your next iPhone . As long as you ’re patient … maybereallypatient .
