Apple has formally announced the new iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence compatibility. As an iPad mini fan since the original first launched in 2012, the little tablet has a soft spot in my heart, and this new model could have one in yours too.
Until today, the M2 Mac mini was the cheapest way to try out Apple Intelligence, but it’s not portable and requires additional peripherals, which drives up the price. Apart from the Mac mini, the iPhone 16 was the second cheapest entry point into the world of Apple Intelligence, but that device starts at $799/£799.
Now that’s all changed with the announcement of Apple’s iPad mini; the new tablet offers everything Apple Intelligence has to offer, starting at $499/£499 for the 128GB model. This means the new iPad mini is the cheapest entry point for people wanting to try out Apple Intelligence, almost a system seller in itself.
Apple Intelligence for less
I’ve been using Apple Intelligence on the beta versions of iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 since Apple first announced the AI features in June, and I’ve been wracking my brain about the price of entry ever since.
To use Apple Intelligence on an iPhone, you need one of the top iPhones from the iPhone 16 range or the previous flagship models iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max. However, none of these smartphones are cheap and even iPhone 15 owners are in trouble. AI-less past. On the iPad side, until today’s announcement you needed an M-series iPad, with the lowest price being the M2 iPad Air at $549/£549, a much lower entry point into Apple Intelligence compared to the iPhone, but still above that $500 mark.
With the arrival of a sub-$500 iPad mini that’s Apple Intelligence-enabled, there’s now an accessible entry point for anyone who wants to try out Apple’s AI tools without forking out for a more expensive product. Yes, that’s only $50 less than the Air, but $50 matters, especially if you’re not sure you’ll even use the AI features you’re upgrading for.
Since Apple Intelligence was unveiled at WWDC, I’ve thought that the success of the software will depend on how many people actually use it, and one of the biggest reasons why people won’t use Apple Intelligence is the initial cost of upgrading to a compatible device. Apple’s strategy with the new iPad mini could prove hugely beneficial to the company as people choose the small tablet as their first taste of Apple Intelligence before purchasing a new iPhone or iPad in the future.
My partner is a good example of this; she owns the iPhone 15 and was disappointed to find out that her less-than-a-year-old device wouldn’t be compatible with the next evolution of Apple software. She’s not currently looking for a new iPhone and Apple Intelligence hasn’t even been released yet, and she’s not sure she’ll even use it. Still, an iPad mini with Apple Intelligence capabilities could serve as a gateway to seeing what Apple AI is capable of. They won’t be the only ones tempted to try the iPad mini to get cheaper access to Apple Intelligence, and if those consumers are impressed, they might just be first in line for the iPhone 17 and they can’t live without an Apple Intelligence-compatible smartphone.