• News

Apple announces new redesigned iPad Mini at Special Event

The popular micro-sized Apple tablet gets a facelift and new internals.

Chris Jarrard

September 14, 2021 10:30 AM

1

During this afternoon’s Apple Special Event, the tech giant took the opportunity to refresh some of their ever-popular tablet lineup. Along with a refresh to the standard 10.2-inch model, Apple is also releasing an all-new iPad Mini. The new iPad Mini will ship with iOS 15 and features a smaller outer chassis, all while bumping the total screen size up from the previous generation.

The first thing that jumps out about the all-new iPad Mini is the display. The previous-generation model came with a 7.9-inch screen with a larger overall chassis. The new iPad Mini manages to pack an upgraded 8.3-inch screen into a smaller overall package. Apple says the screen comes with an anti-reflective coating and is capable of up to 500 nits of brightness, which leaves it just outside of the edge of solid HDR output capability.

The color choices for the 2021 iPad Mini are also mixed up from previous generations. While Space Gray returns as expected, customers will also be able to purchase a new iPad Mini in pink, purple, and off-white. The Mini also gets an upgrade to USB-C charging and data transfer instead of the traditional Apple Lightning port. While FaceID does not make the cut, TouchID does and is located on the power button, much like the iPad Air. 

The new iPad Mini will also come with new WiFi 6 and optional 5G radios for the fastest-possible connections. The tablet will also be compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil and can wirelessly charge the input device. 

Interested parties can start pre-orders today and can expect the new iPad Mini to show up on store shelves by September 24, 2021. Pricing starts at $499 USD for the 64GB Wifi model and $649 USD for the 64GB WiFi+5G cellular model. You can follow our additional coverage of today’s Apple Special Event for all the latest products news and details.

Chris Jarrard

Contributing Tech Editor

Chris Jarrard likes playing games, crankin' tunes, and looking for fights on obscure online message boards. He understands that breakfast food is the only true food. Don't @ him.