Apple has just revealed its latest iPad mini, marking the first significant upgrade for the compact tablet since 2021. This time, the new iPad mini 7 comes with some exciting enhancements under the hood while retaining the familiar 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and compact design.

The highlight of the new model is its A17 Pro chip, which is the same processor found in the iPhone 15 Pro. This provides the iPad mini with a 30% faster CPU and a 25% faster GPU compared to its predecessor, making it a powerhouse for everything from multitasking to gaming. Apple has also boosted the Neural Engine, which is now twice as fast, offering better performance for AI-powered tasks.

What’s also exciting is the addition of support for the new Apple Pencil Pro, making the iPad mini an appealing option for artists or anyone who likes to take handwritten notes. The base model now comes with 128GB of storage—double the capacity of the previous generation—starting at $499. Pre-orders are open, and the tablet will officially be available on October 23rd.

Though the external design remains largely unchanged, Apple has updated the color options, adding new blue and purple hues, along with the classic starlight and space gray. The camera has also seen some upgrades, including Smart HDR 4 and improved document scanning capabilities, thanks to machine learning improvements in the Camera app.

Apple seems to be positioning the new iPad mini as an AI-centric device, with Apple Intelligence integrated into features like enhanced Siri and advanced writing tools. These tools let users edit and summarize text effortlessly across apps like Mail and Notes. Additionally, Photos now includes AI-powered options like creating custom memories or cleaning up backgrounds in images without affecting the subject.

This update brings the iPad mini closer in line with Apple’s more powerful devices while maintaining its compact charm for those who love its portability.