Tablets · Model guide · Maker specs
iPad mini (A17 Pro)
Get iPad mini (A17 Pro) if you want the smallest current iPad: an 8.3-inch screen in a 293-gram tablet that works with Apple Pencil Pro, from $499 with 128GB.
Product images
iPad mini (A17 Pro), from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
Get iPad mini (A17 Pro) if you want the smallest current iPad: an 8.3-inch screen in a 293-gram tablet that works with Apple Pencil Pro, from $499 with 128GB. It runs Apple Intelligence on the A17 Pro, unlocks with Touch ID and has landscape stereo speakers and a USB 3 port. Skip it if you want a keyboard dock or a bigger canvas: it has no Smart Connector, and iPad Air starts at $599.
Who it is for
- Readers and note-takers who carry a tablet everywhere: it fits a small bag and takes notes with Apple Pencil Pro.
- Commuters and travelers who want cellular in the smallest iPad: the 5G model weighs just 297 grams.
Who should skip it
- Anyone who works in several windows at once. iPad Air (M4) gives you an 11- or 13-inch screen and 12GB of memory.
- Buyers who want iPad Pro's tandem OLED with a 1600-nit HDR peak, four speakers, Face ID or Thunderbolt.
- Anyone who wants to stay on Android. The mini runs iPadOS.
What sets it apart
- Apple's only current tablet under 8.5 inches and under 300 grams: an 8.3-inch screen in a 293-gram, 6.3mm-thin aluminum body.
- Apple Pencil Pro support, hover included, on an 8.3-inch screen.
- An A17 Pro chip (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) that runs Apple Intelligence.
Caveats
- Storage stops at 512GB, and there's no microSD slot.
- An external display tops out at 4K and 60Hz, below the 6K iPad Air can drive.
- Apple Intelligence comes with region and language limits, and some of it launched as a beta.
Key specs
In the same order on every tablet page, so you can compare models.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 8.3 inches diagonal (measured as a rectangle; the corners are rounded) | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Display type | Liquid Retina; LED-backlit IPS Multi-Touch | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Display resolution | 2266 × 1488 at 326 ppi | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specsApple's rating. |
| Display features | Wide color (P3); True Tone; oleophobic coating; fully laminated; antireflective coating; Apple Pencil hover | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Sold size(s) | 8.3-inch only | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Dimensions | 195.4 × 134.8 × 6.3 mm (Wi-Fi and cellular) | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Weight | Wi-Fi 293 g (0.65 lb); Wi-Fi + Cellular 297 g (0.66 lb) | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Finishes | Blue; Purple; Starlight; Space Gray | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Chassis / enclosure | Aluminum | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specsRecycled-content figures are in Apple's Environment notes for the mini. |
| Chip / processor | A17 Pro: 6-core CPU (2P+4E), 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specsP is performance (2 cores) and E is efficiency (4 cores). |
| On-device storage | 128GB, 256GB or 512GB; no 1TB and no microSD | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Operating system | iPadOS | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Pencil / stylus | Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C), both with hover; neither is in the box | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Keyboard / cover | No Smart Connector and no Magic Keyboard; folios and third-party keyboards only | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Biometrics | Touch ID in the top button | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Speakers | Landscape stereo speakers | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Microphones | Two microphones for calls, video and audio recording | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Cellular | Wi-Fi + Cellular models: 5G (sub-6GHz, 4x4 MIMO); Gigabit LTE; eSIM; model A2995. Wi-Fi models have no cellular. | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Wireless (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) 2x2 MIMO, simultaneous dual band; Bluetooth 5.3 | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Ports / expansion | USB-C with charging, DisplayPort and USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s); magnetic Pencil connector; no Smart Connector | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Rear camera | 12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8; True Tone flash; 4K video up to 60 fps | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Front camera | 12MP Center Stage, ƒ/2.4; 1080p video | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Battery | 19.3Wh. Up to 10 hours of Wi-Fi web or video; up to 9 hours of web on cellular | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Charging | 20W USB-C power adapter and 1m USB-C cable in the box; also charges from a computer's USB-C port | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Location / GNSS | Digital compass, Wi-Fi and iBeacon on every model; GPS/GNSS on cellular models | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| US launch price | Wi-Fi $499; Wi-Fi + Cellular $649 (US, 15 October 2024), both with 128GB; 256GB and 512GB cost more | Apple Newsroom, 15 October 2024 and 23 October 2024 |
| Price band | Compact iPad ($499 at US launch, before Pencil) | Based on Apple's $499 starting price |
| Announced | 15 October 2024 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Pre-orders from 15 October 2024; in stores from Wednesday, 23 October 2024. Still Apple's current mini on 19 September 2026. | Apple Newsroom, 15 October 2024; Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
iPad mini (A17 Pro) extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rear True Tone flash | Yes; iPad Air (M3) lists no rear flash | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Smart Connector | None, so no Magic Keyboard | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| External display | One external display up to 4K at 60Hz | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| In the box | iPad mini (A17 Pro); USB-C Charge Cable (1m); 20W USB-C Power Adapter | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
| Apple Intelligence | Supported; Apple notes beta, region and language limits | Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) tech specs |
The screen
At 2266 × 1488 on 8.3 inches, the mini packs 326 pixels per inch into an IPS Liquid Retina panel rated at 500 nits. There’s no ProMotion or 120Hz refresh rate in Apple’s specs for it.
Pencil hover works here just as it does on the bigger iPads: with Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C), the screen senses the tip before it touches. Both Pencils attach to the magnetic connector.
Apple Intelligence, ports and radios
Apple pitched this mini as built for Apple Intelligence, which runs on the A17 Pro; its CPU splits into 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores. USB-C handles charging and DisplayPort output, with USB 3 data at up to 10Gb/s. Wireless is Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, and the cellular model (A2995) adds 5G with 4x4 MIMO.
Cameras and sound
The 12MP Wide camera on the back has a True Tone flash and records 4K at up to 60 fps. Up front, the 12MP Center Stage camera has an ƒ/2.4 lens and records 1080p. Touch ID is in the top button, and calls go through landscape stereo speakers and two microphones.
Battery and charging
Apple’s rating for the 19.3Wh battery is 10 hours of Wi-Fi browsing or video, or 9 hours browsing over cellular. A 20W USB-C charger and a 1m cable come in the box.
iPad mini, base iPad or iPad Air?
The mini is the light one; the bigger iPads trade weight for screen and keyboard options:
| Spec | iPad mini (A17 Pro) | iPad (A16) | iPad Air (M4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | 8.3-inch | 10.86-inch | 10.86-inch or 12.9-inch |
| Weight | 293 or 297 g | 477 or 481 g | 464 to 617 g |
| Apple Pencil | Pro and USB-C, with hover | USB-C and 1st generation | Pro and USB-C, with hover |
| Keyboard | No Smart Connector | Smart Connector | Magic Keyboard for iPad Air |
| Chip and memory | A17 Pro; memory not published | A16; memory not published | M4, 12GB |
| US Wi-Fi launch price | $499 (October 2024) | $349 (March 2025) | $599 (March 2026) |
The base iPad is the cheapest way to a full-size screen and a Smart Connector keyboard, but it skips Pencil Pro. The Air is the one that pairs Pencil Pro with the Magic Keyboard.
Price
At launch on 15 October 2024, the mini cost $499 with Wi-Fi and $649 with cellular, both with 128GB; 256GB and 512GB cost more. Apple Pencil is extra. Prices change, so check Apple’s current price before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- 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
How much RAM does iPad mini (A17 Pro) have?
Apple doesn't say. It names the A17 Pro chip but gives no memory figure, so there's no official number to set against the 12GB in iPad Air (M4).
Does iPad mini (A17 Pro) work with a Magic Keyboard?
No. It has no Smart Connector, so there's no Magic Keyboard for it; you'd use a folio or a third-party keyboard.
Is there a newer iPad mini?
No. The A17 Pro model, on sale since October 2024, was still Apple's current mini on 19 September 2026.
Does the cellular iPad mini need a SIM card?
No. It uses an eSIM, on 5G or Gigabit LTE, and the cellular model is the one with GPS.
Official product page: iPad mini (A17 Pro). Tech specs: iPad mini (A17 Pro) specs.