Tim Hardwick
Starting today, Apple’s new iPad mini 7 with the A17 Pro chip is available for same-day or next-day pickup in Apple Stores, no pre-order required. Online orders also begin arriving for customers today.
Customers across Europe, Asia and other regions can now order on Apple’s website or in the Apple Store app and pick up their order at their local retailer. Apple hasn’t updated its online store for customers in the US and Canada yet, but that’s set to change in the next few hours.
To order an item for in-store pickup from an Apple Store, add the item to your cart on Apple.com, proceed to checkout, select the “I’ll pick it up in person” option, enter your ZIP code, select an available Apple Store, and select a pickup date. Payment is complete online, and you may be required to provide a valid government-issued photo ID and your order number at pickup.
The iPad mini is Apple’s smallest tablet yet, and the latest model features a thin design, an A17 Pro chip with support for the Apple Intelligence features coming with iPadOS 18.1, a USB-C port, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. Base storage has been doubled, so the entry-level iPad mini starts at 128GB of storage instead of 64GB. 256GB and 512GB options are available as upgrades.
The 12-megapixel Wide rear camera on the new iPad mini now supports Smart HDR 4 and uses machine learning to detect and scan documents right in the Camera app, and the USB-C port provides a wired connection that’s 2x faster than the previous generation, with up to 10Gbps data transfer. The cellular version of iPad mini 7 supports sub-6GHz 5G and now includes Wi-Fi 6E for faster 6GHz connections. Bluetooth has been upgraded to version 5.3, and Apple has replaced the nano-SIM slot with eSIM-only connectivity worldwide.
Note that iPad mini models sold in Europe do not come with a power adapter in the box, while models sold in the US include a 20W USB-C adapter.
The iPad mini comes in four colors, including blue, star, purple, and space gray. Pricing starts at $499 for the 128GB Wi-Fi-only model, and goes up to $799 for the 512GB model. Cellular models are available for $150 more than the base price of each configuration. Apple is also selling new Smart Folio cases for the iPad mini for $59 in matching colors, and the Apple Pencil Pro that works with the iPad mini is available for $129.
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