Apple
iPad mini 7 Release Date: Tips & Tricks
Apple’s reportedly working on a new iPad mini and there are some steps interested buyers should take ahead of the iPad mini 7 release date.
If you’re in the market for a new iPad, you might want to hang around and wait for Apple’s rumored seventh-generation iPad mini, also known as the iPad mini 7.
We don’t have a firm release date yet, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes mass shipments of the iPad mini 7 will start by the end of 2023 or sometime in the first half of 2024. This means we could see the device arrive in the fall of 2023 or in the spring of 2024.
Leaker ShrimpApplePro recently claimed at least one new iPad is coming in 2023, and they believe it’s the iPad mini 7. So 2023 is still in play.
Apple’s iPhone 15 event will take place on September 12th and we could potentially see an iPad mini 7 announcement on that date.
This means September 22nd is more than likely the iPhone 15’s release date. There’s no guarantee the iPad mini 7 arrives the same day as the new iPhones, but it’s certainly a possibility.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple is planning a launch in October so it’s possible the device arrives a month after the new iPhones. It’s unclear if it will be a formal event or just a press release dump. We expect the latter.
The fall is inching closer, but this timing might be too far out for some shoppers. Others might want to hang around and wait for the iPad mini 7 release date.
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If you think you might want to buy a new iPad mini, here are some tips that will help you prepare for the device’s arrival.
Track iPad mini 7 Rumors
If you’re interested in buying Apple’s next iPad mini, you’ll want to track the latest iPad mini 7 rumors as we push toward the device’s official release.
As the months go on, reports will fill in the blanks and highlight the changes coming to the iPad mini series down the road. These rumors will help you set proper expectations and help you decide if the device is worth waiting for.
For more about the latest iPad mini 7 rumors, have a look at our guide.
Get Familiar with iPadOS
If you’re currently using an iPad that’s running old iPadOS software or tablet that runs another operating system, and you plan to upgrade to a new iPad mini down the road, you’ll want to get familiar with the newest versions of iPadOS.
Right now, the current version of iPadOS is iPadOS 16. If you own a newer iPad model, you’ve probably already upgraded to the software and you can safely skip this step. If you aren’t using iPadOS 16 right now, you’ll want to use this time to get comfortable with the operating system.
If the iPad mini 7 arrives in 2023 or early 2024, it will run Apple’s iPadOS 17 operating system out of the box. iPadOS 17 was revealed at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
Apple’s pushed iPadOS 17 into beta testing giving iPad users with a compatible model access to the software ahead of its official arrival in the fall.
If you don’t own a newer iPad model or you prefer to keep your devices on stable software, you’ll want to follow the iPadOS 17 beta from a distance. This will help you get familiar with the software.
Once iPadOS 17 officially arrives, you’ll want to go hands-on with the software. This is especially important if you’re considering a move from Windows or Android to Apple’s ecosystem.
Decide How Much Storage You Need
You’ll want to use this time to decide how much storage you might need on your new iPad mini. Many of you will be fine with the least amount of storage, but many others will likely need to upgrade. Picking the right storage capacity will help you save some money and avoid headaches.
We haven’t seen any credible iPad mini 7 storage rumors yet, but there’s a chance Apple launches two variants. The iPad mini 6 comes in 64GB and 256GB. We’re hoping the company beefs up the iPad mini 7’s storage capacity, but that may be wishful thinking.
We aren’t expecting the iPad mini 7’s price to take a huge leap from the iPad mini 6’s. The 64GB iPad mini 6 starts at $499 while the larger 256GB model starts at $649.
Look at Other iPads
Before you decide to wait for the iPad mini 7 release date, make sure you shop around starting with Apple’s other iPad options.
The iPad mini 6 is the current flagship and it’s an obvious choice for shoppers who may not be able to wait until the fall or spring of 2024.
You’ll also want to take a look at the company’s standard iPad, current iPad Air and perhaps some of the cheaper iPad Pro models. We’ve seen some great deals in the first half of 2023 and we should see plenty more as time goes on.
Research iPad mini Alternatives
We also recommend digging into iPad mini alternatives that fall outside of the Apple iPad family. Here are a few of the best alternatives on the market right now:
Make sure you go hands-on with these, and others, sometime this year.
Make a Plan for Your Current Tablet
You may want to start making a plan for your current tablet.
You might know of a friend or relative who could benefit from your current device. Ask around and see if anyone might need a hand-me-down after you upgrade. You might also look into donating your tablet to charity.
If you plan on selling your current tablet to help offset the cost of your new iPad mini, you’ll want to track prices at popular resellers.
You’ll also want to keep your current tablet in good condition because that’s how you’ll get the most money back from some resellers when trade-in offers arrive.
Research Carriers
Like the iPad mini 6, we expect the iPad mini 7 to come with 5G connectivity. Having cellular data could be useful if you plan to get work done on your new iPad mini in places where you don’t have a strong Wi-Fi signal or won’t have one at all.
If you’re unhappy with your current provider’s coverage or plan, use this time to dig into competitors and see if you can find a better fit for your next tablet.
Wait for Performance Improvements | ||||||||
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Perhaps the biggest change coming on board the next iPad mini is an improved processor. According to Kuo, Apple's "currently working on a new version of the iPad mini equipped with a new processor as the main selling point." Kuo doesn't call the processor out by name, but it'll be a newer chip than the A15 Bionic that's currently inside the company's iPad mini 6. Gurman also says the iPad mini 7 will have a new processor and says the device will probably offer little more than that. A newer processor would likely lead to performance enhancements like improved battery life and overall speed which are essential for a portable device like the iPad mini. We may also see other improvements like a new modem which could enhance connectivity. | ||||||||
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