All-new Apple iPad mini 7 gets a surprise announcement – pre-orders now open

We've been waiting years for a new iPad mini and Apple only goes and sneaks one onto its store with very little fanfare.

Not that we're complaining though, as the iPad mini remains among the best iPads and the new model is now available to pre-order with some significant upgrades underneath the hood.

For starters, the new model runs on the same A17 Pro chip that drives last year's top-level iPhones – the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. That's important as the new mini will support Apple Intelligence features when they start to arrive later this month.

You also get faster wireless connectivity, with the tablet now coming with Wi-Fi 6E tech. The Wi-Fi + Cellular model supports 5G too, which uses eSIM to hook-up with the network of your choice. And there's now a USB-C port rather than Lightning for charging, which Apple claims is two-times faster for data transfer.

And finally, the iPad mini 7 supports the Apple Pencil Pro – the sensor-packed latest stylus from the brand that was launched in May. This makes the iPad mini more than just a travel companion, it's now a serious creative tool, too.

Many of the other specifications are similar to its three year-old predecessor. You get an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display (2266 x 1488) and a 12-megapixel rear camera that is Smart HDR 4-enabled.

The front camera uses a 12-megapixel sensor too, plus an ultra-wide lens. It can record video up to 1080p 30fps, while the rear can capture up to 4K 60fps footage.

Centre Stage is available for video calling, which makes sure you are always in the centre of the frame, even if you're moving around.

Touch ID is on board for security, with the sensor hidden underneath the power button.

The new iPad mini is available to pre-order now in Blue, Purple, Starlight and Space Gray.

It's priced from £499 / $499 / AUD$799 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model, £649 / $649 / AUD$1,049 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular version, and will ship from Wednesday 23 October 2024.