Device hub · Tablets · Desk research
iPad mini (A17 Pro)
mini (A17 Pro) is the $499 8.3-inch iPad: A17 Pro, Pencil Pro hover, landscape stereo, 293/297 g.
Product images
Placeholder — OEM press not licensediPad mini (A17 Pro)
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not an Apple asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
Placeholder — OEM press not licensediPad mini (A17 Pro)
Credit: GadgetShowdown labeled placeholder (not an Apple asset). View official product image
Studio still only. Manufacturer press JPEGs are not hosted here. See the official product page for the real product photo.
In short
mini (A17 Pro) is the $499 8.3-inch iPad: A17 Pro, Pencil Pro hover, landscape stereo, 293/297 g. Buy it for one-hand carry. Skip it if you want 11-inch windowing space, tandem OLED, or four speakers.
Who it is for
- Buyers who specifically want Apple’s current 8.3-inch slate — 195.4 × 134.8 × 6.3 mm, 293 g Wi-Fi / 297 g cellular.
- Note-takers and readers who want Pencil Pro hover without carrying an 11-inch Air.
- Cellular users who want 5G eSIM on the smallest current iPad.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who wants 11- or 13-inch split-view / windowing space. That is Air or Pro.
- Buyers who want tandem OLED, 1600-nit HDR, four speakers, Face ID, or Thunderbolt.
- People who need a published RAM number before they buy — Apple’s mini Support sheet does not list unified memory (accessed 2026-09-19).
- Android compact-tablet shoppers (there is no current Pixel 8-inch slate).
Key differentiators
- Only current Apple tablet under 300 g and under 8.5 inches.
- A17 Pro (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) plus Apple Intelligence on Apple’s compact SKU.
- Same Pencil Pro + USB-C + hover path as Air/Pro, on landscape stereo speakers.
- USB 3 (10Gb/s) and one external display up to 4K/60 Hz — lower than Air’s 6K table.
Caveats
- We have not held this mini. Battery “up to 10 hours” and brightness “500 nits” are Apple claims.
- RAM is not on the Support tech-specs page — keep the tablets-v1 memory key and write “not published.”
- Apple Support names the OS family as iPadOS. Confirm apple.com/ipados on write day.
- Apple product photography is not hosted here.
Tablet-category specs
Same rows on every tablet page (iPad Pro / Air / mini, Galaxy Tab S, Pixel Tablet).
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 8.3-inch Liquid Retina (rectangle diagonal; rounded-corner footnote) | Apple Support iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Display type | Liquid Retina; LED-backlit IPS Multi-Touch | Apple Support 121456 |
| Display resolution | 2266 × 1488 at 326 ppi | Apple Support 121456 |
| Peak brightness (OEM) | 500 nits | Apple Support 121456 |
| Refresh rate | Not published | Apple Support 121456 |
| Display features | Wide color (P3); True Tone; oleophobic coating; fully laminated; antireflective coating; Apple Pencil hover | Apple Support 121456 |
| Sold size(s) | 8.3-inch iPad mini only | Apple Support 121456 |
| Dimensions | 195.4 × 134.8 × 6.3 mm (Wi-Fi and cellular) | Apple Support 121456 |
| Weight | Wi-Fi 293 g (0.65 lb); Wi-Fi + Cellular 297 g (0.66 lb) | Apple Support 121456 |
| Finishes | Blue; Purple; Starlight; Space Gray | Apple Support 121456 |
| Chassis / enclosure | Aluminum iPad mini enclosure (see Apple’s Environment block on Support for recycled-content claims) | Apple Support 121456 |
| Chip / processor | A17 Pro: 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency), 5-core GPU, 16-core. | Apple Support 121456 |
| Memory (RAM) | Not published | Apple Support 121456Do not invent an 8GB figure from a teardown or a retailer bullet. |
| On-device storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB (no 1TB; no microSD) | Apple Support 121456 |
| Operating system | iPadOS (Apple Support names the OS family) | Apple Support 121456 |
| Pencil / stylus | Supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C), including hover. Neither Pencil is in the box. | Apple Support 121456 |
| Keyboard / cover (OEM) | Not published | Apple Support 121456 (Buttons and Connectors) |
| Biometrics | Touch ID in the top button | Apple Support 121456 |
| Speakers | Landscape stereo speakers | Apple Support 121456 |
| Microphones | Dual microphones for calls, video recording, and audio recording | Apple Support 121456 |
| Cellular | Wi-Fi models: none. Wi-Fi + Cellular: 5G sub-6 with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; eSIM (Support SIM section). Model A2995 band list on the spec sheet. | Apple Support 121456 |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) 2x2 MIMO; simultaneous dual band; Bluetooth 5.3 | Apple Support 121456 |
| Ports / expansion | USB-C with charging, DisplayPort, and USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s); magnetic Pencil connector. No Smart Connector on the published connector list. | Apple Support 121456 |
| Rear camera | 12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8; True Tone flash; 4K video up to 60 fps | Apple Support 121456 |
| Front camera | 12MP Center Stage, ƒ/2.4; 1080p video | Apple Support 121456 |
| Battery (OEM) | 19.3Wh. Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi web or video; cellular models up to 9 hours web on cellular | Apple Support 121456 |
| Charging (OEM) | USB-C Charge Cable (1m) and 20W USB-C Power Adapter in the box. Charging via adapter or USB-C to computer. | Apple Support 121456 |
| Durability / ingress | Not published | Apple Support 121456 |
| Location / GNSS | All models: digital compass, Wi-Fi, iBeacon. Cellular models add GPS/GNSS | Apple Support 121456 |
| US MSRP (launch) | Wi-Fi $499; Wi-Fi + Cellular $649 (US, 15 October 2024). 128GB start; 256GB and 512GB extra. Re-check apple.com. | Apple Newsroom, 2024-10-15 / 2024-10-23 availability post |
| Price band | Compact Apple tablet ($499 US launch before Pencil) | Derived from Apple $499 start |
| Announced | 15 October 2024 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Pre-order from 15 October 2024; Apple said availability beginning Wednesday, 23 October 2024. Still the current mini SKU on 19 September 2026. | Apple Newsroom 2024-10-15; Apple Support 121456 |
iPad mini (A17 Pro) extras
Unique to this line or SKU. Other tablets keep the first table aligned and swap this extras list.
| Attribute | Value | Source / note |
|---|---|---|
| Rear True Tone flash | Yes — listed on the mini camera block (Air M3 Support camera block we pulled does not list a rear flash) | Apple Support 121456 |
| Smart Connector | Not on the published Buttons and Connectors list | Apple Support 121456 |
| External display | One external display up to 4K at 60Hz | Apple Support 121456 |
| In the box | iPad mini (A17 Pro); USB-C Charge Cable (1m); 20W USB-C Power Adapter | Apple Support 121456 |
| Apple Intelligence | Support lists Apple Intelligence (beta / region / language limits) | Apple Support 121456 |
Overview
iPad mini (A17 Pro) is Apple’s compact tablet. The job-to-be-done is “fits in a small bag / one hand,” not “replaces a 13-inch Pro.” Year introduced on Support is 2024; it was still the current mini SKU on 19 September 2026.
Why the compact rows matter
weight, sizes, and speakers are why mini exists as its own hub. 293 g and landscape stereo are not defects — they are the product. A later vs-page against Air (M3) should argue bag weight and 8.3 vs 10.86 inches, not invent a “worse speakers” lab score.
RAM stays not published. That is the honest cell.
Pencil without a keyboard dock
mini gets the same Pencil Pro hover sentence as Air/Pro and does not get Smart Connector / Magic Keyboard on the Support connector list. Keep keyboard and write the absence.
Battery
19.3Wh; up to 10 hours Wi-Fi web or video; 9 hours cellular web. 20W brick is in the box (unlike the Air Support list we pulled).
Display, chip, and speakers
8.3-inch Liquid Retina IPS, 2266 × 1488, 326 ppi, 500 nits, P3, True Tone, laminated, antireflective, Pencil hover. No ProMotion row on Support 121456.
A17 Pro is 6-core CPU (2P + 4E) / 5-core GPU / 16-core Neural Engine. RAM stays not published. Storage is 128 / 256 / 512GB — no 1TB. Speakers are landscape stereo with dual mics.
Cellular, wireless, and ports
Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3. Cellular is 5G eSIM (Model A2995 band list). USB-C is USB 3 at 10Gb/s with one external display up to 4K/60 — lower than Air’s 6K table. No Thunderbolt. No Smart Connector.
How this page compares on a desk (not a vs-page)
| Desk fact (OEM) | iPad mini (A17 Pro) | iPad (A16) | iPad Air (M4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size / weight | 8.3-inch, 293/297 g | 10.86-inch, 477/481 g | 10.86 / 12.9-inch class, 464–617 g |
| Pencil | Pro + USB-C + hover | USB-C + 1st gen | Pro + USB-C + hover |
| Keyboard | No Smart Connector | Smart Connector | Magic Keyboard for Air |
| Chip | A17 Pro; RAM not published | A16; RAM not published | M4, 12GB |
| US Wi-Fi start | $499 (Oct 2024) | $349 (Mar 2025) | $599 (Mar 2026) |
Software
Support names iPadOS. Apple Intelligence is listed with region limits. Confirm apple.com/ipados on write day.
Price, SKUs, and what not to invent
$499 Wi-Fi / $649 cellular at the 15 October 2024 launch. Do not invent a 2026 mini successor. If Apple ships one, new slug.
Sources
- Apple Newsroom — Apple introduces powerful new iPad mini built for Apple Intelligence — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — iPad mini product page — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Newsroom — The new iPad mini is available today — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple — iPad mini technical specifications — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Is there a 2026 iPad mini?
On write day the current Apple Support mini sheet is still iPad mini (A17 Pro), year introduced 2024. If Apple ships a newer mini, add a new slug — do not silently overwrite this file.
How much RAM does it have?
Apple does not publish a RAM figure on the Support tech-specs page. We keep the tablets-v1 memory key and write “not published.” Do not paste an 8GB rumor.
Does mini have a Magic Keyboard?
Not on Apple’s published connector list (no Smart Connector). Folios exist; do not describe a first-party mini Magic Keyboard.
Pencil on an 8.3-inch screen — is hover real?
Support lists Pencil Pro, Pencil (USB-C), and hover on the display block. We have not measured hover reliability.
Official product page: iPad mini (A17 Pro). Tech specs: iPad mini (A17 Pro) specs.