The new iPad mini became available globally earlier this week, so let’s take a look at the pricing and some alternatives.
The Apple iPad mini (2024) now has 128GB of storage in its base configuration and 8GB of RAM. The latter is paired with a downgraded A17 Pro chipset to support Apple Intelligence. These AI features are coming soon as part of the iPadOS 18.1 update (and will initially be limited to the US). There are other upgrades over the old mini, such as faster Wi-Fi 6E and USB-C connectivity (10Gbps, up from 5Gbps). But you’ll still get a 60Hz 8.3-inch IPS LCD, even though this chip handled the iPhone 15 Pro’s 120Hz display just fine.
The old iPad mini (2021) is still available and is cheaper. The base storage of 64GB is hard to recommend as it will be quite limited between iPadOS and app updates, not to mention file storage. You could look at the 256GB model, but at that price you could also get the 2024 tablet.
Apple Intelligence is available on devices with the Apple A Pro chipset and M series chips, such as the new iPad Pros. These are still the only devices with the Apple M4 chip, and the performance improvement over older M2-based iPad Pros is huge.
We linked the 256GB (also available with 512GB of storage) and 1TB (and 2TB) versions of the iPad Pro (2024), and they’re different. The lower-capacity models have 8GB of RAM and a 9-core CPU, while the higher-capacity models have 16GB of RAM and a 10-core CPU. Only higher-capacity tablets have the option of nanostructured glass, but keep in mind that this is an expensive upgrade.
Moving on to tablets, the new Apple AirPods 4 are also available in two variants: without ANC and with ANC. Active noise cancellation costs more, but you’ll appreciate the benefits when traveling or working in a noisy office. The ANC-enabled model also features wireless charging (you can use the Apple Watch charger or MagSafe), and a small speaker helps you find the case.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is thinner and lighter than previous models, and it also has the largest display of any Apple smartwatch. It’s kind of a mini-Ultra with a depth gauge that can track your dives down to 20 feet (and there’s a water temperature sensor, too). Apple also updated the speaker, allowing you to listen to music or a podcast directly from your watch, without the need for headphones.
You can still get the old Apple Watch Series 9. It got the sleep apnea monitoring feature as an update with watchOS 11. It has an ECG sensor and heart rate monitoring, but keep in mind that the Series 9 and 10 watches (and the Ultra 2) have the blood oxygen sensor disabled in the United States.
Finally, the 2023 Apple Mac mini has a nice discount with the help of a coupon. It’s powered by the Apple M2 chip (a more expensive version with the M2 Pro is also available) and has two Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI port, Gigabit Ethernet, and Wi-Fi 6E compatibility. It’s not fanless but it’s very quiet. macOS is also getting a dose of Apple Intelligence.
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