Apple Reveals iPad mini with All-New Design, USB-C Port, and Much More

Apple just announced that it’s made the biggest update to the iPad mini ever. The next-generation iPad mini features a larger display, new cameras, 5G, and even support for the second-generation Apple Pencil.

Alongside these new features, the new iPad mini now has an all-new design. Similar to what Apple did with the fourth-generation iPad Air, the new iPad mini has a flatter design in four different colors: Purple, Pink, Star Light, and Space Gray.

iPad mini | Bigger Display, Same Small Design

Along with the new design, the iPad mini now has a bigger display. Instead of making the iPad mini bigger, Apple made the bezels on the iPad mini smaller to feature a larger 8.3-inch display.

This display supports True Tone, has a broader color range, 500 nits of brightness, and lower reflection all around.

One of the most significant changes on the iPad mini is the lack of a Home button. Apple did the same thing with the newest iPad Air and ditched the front button. Also, just like the iPad Air, since the iPad mini doesn’t have a Home button, Touch ID was relocated to the Power button at the top.

On the inside, the iPad mini will feature the A15 Bionic chip, which will make it up to two times faster and with up to 40% better performance than in previous generations.

Another big change for the iPad mini is in the connectivity department. The iPad mini will now come with a USB-C port instead of Lightning, which will let it transfer data up to ten times faster. Likewise, the iPad mini cellular models now also support 5G.

Just like the new iPad, the iPad mini will also come with a 12MP front-facing camera with Focus Pixels and True Tone flash. It’ll support Center Stage, which is a feature that makes the iPad mini’s front-facing camera automatically focus on the person or persons that are in at the front.

The iPad mini also comes with a new speaker system that has stereo in landscape mode and can now shoot video in 4K.

2nd-Generation Apple Pencil Support

Alongside the new iPad mini, Apple announced a new set of Slim Smartphone Folio covers that come in five new colors that complement the iPad mini’s new colors: black, white, dark cherry, English lavender, and electric orange.

Another big update for the iPad mini is that it now supports the second-generation Apple Pencil. You’ll be able to use it and charge it by connecting it to the side of the iPad mini just like you would on the iPad Pro.

The iPad mini starts at $499, and you can preorder it today. The iPad mini will be available next week.