Apple today introduced the new iPad mini, supercharged by the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence, the easy-to-use personal intelligence system that understands personal context to deliver intelligence that is helpful and relevant while protecting user privacy.

I should confess right up front that I have always loved the iPad Mini. I’ve owned several; I’ve bought them as gifts for multiple family members. I want a tablet I can use to read in bed, throw into my overstuffed carry-on bag, or prop up on the toaster to help me cook dinner. The Mini is the one.

The price for the Apple iPad mini 7 is the same as before, starting at $499 for the Wi-Fi version with 128GB of RAM, and $649 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant.

The first reviews for the new iPad mini are out, and the general consensus is that it's a relatively safe update that depends on Apple Intelligence to be worthwhile.

While the latest iPad Air and iPad Pro offer larger sizes and faster performance, the iPad mini 7 mostly delivers the same experiences you’d get on those tablets, only in a smal

The last mini arrived in 2021 and it was the first smaller iPad to be an all-screen device, meaning it took the Touch ID home button from the front of the tablet and mounted it in the power button on the edge.

Apple's new iPad mini, featuring the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence support, offers an affordable entry point to experience Apple's AI features.