Apple Launches All-New 8.3-Inch iPad Mini With 5G Support And Refreshed 10.2-Inch iPad

by Brandon Hill — Tuesday, September 14, 2021, 01:31 PM EDT

Apple’s iPad mini has always been a popular device, and it is now getting its most significant upgrade ever. Like the fourth-generation iPad Air that came before it, the new iPad mini brings the iPad Pro design language (complete with its thin bezels) down to the consumer market.

The screen now measures 8.3 inches while keeping the same footprint as its 7.9-inch predecessor. The Liquid Retina display features True Tone support and can reach 500 nits for brightness. Given that the home button is now gone, Touch ID has moved to the power button (just like the iPad Air). The Lightning port on the bottom of the device has been tossed in favor of USB-C, and optional 5G cellular connectivity is available for those on the go.

The back camera now features a 12MP camera with f/1.8 aperture and True Tone flash. Up front is a 12MP FaceTime HD camera with Center Stage support. Stereo speakers are included (for playback even in landscape mode), and the device supports the second-generation Apple Pencil. It starts at $499, is available for preorder today, and will launch next week in Wi-Fi and Cellular versions.

Apple introduced a new 10.2-inch iPad, which represents the entry-level point for the company’s tablet lineup. This time around, the A12 Bionic has been replaced by the A13 Bionic SoC, bringing a 20 percent performance boost.

Unfortunately, Apple hasn’t updated the design of the iPad, as it still features large top and bottom display bezels and the old school Home button. However, the top bezel now houses an upgraded 12MP FaceTime HD camera that supports Center Stage functionality from the iPad Pro. Center Stage keeps your face centered during video calls.

True Tone display technology is now supported on the budget iPad, and it still supports the first-generation Apple Pencil. The new iPad will ship with iPadOS 15, starting at $329 with 64GB of internal storage. Preorders start today and the tablets will ship next week.

Tags: Apple, ipad, iPad Mini, (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Brandon Hill

Brandon received his first PC, an IBM Aptiva 310, in 1994 and hasn’t looked back since. He cut his teeth on computer building/repair working at a mom and pop computer shop as a plucky teen in the mid 90s and went on to join AnandTech as the Senior News Editor in 1999. Brandon would later help to form DailyTech where he served as Editor-in-Chief from 2008 until 2014. Brandon is a tech geek at heart, and family members always know where to turn when they need free tech support. When he isn’t writing about the tech hardware or studying up on the latest in mobile gadgets, you’ll find him browsing forums that cater to his long-running passion: automobiles.

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