The new iPad mini became available worldwide earlier this week, so let’s take a look at the prices and some alternatives.
The Apple iPad mini (2024) now has 128 GB of storage in the base configuration and 8 GB of RAM. The latter is accompanied by a demoted A17 Pro chipset to support Apple Intelligence. These AI features will be available soon as part of the iPadOS 18.1 update (and will initially be limited to the US). There are some other upgrades over the old mini, like faster Wi-Fi 6E and USB-C connectivity (10 Gbps, up from 5 Gbps). But you still get an 8.3” 60Hz IPS LCD screen, even though this chip made the iPhone 15 Pro’s 120Hz screen work just fine.
The old iPad mini (2021) is still available and cheaper. The 64GB base storage is hard to recommend, as it’s going to be quite tight between iPadOS and app updates, let alone file storage. You could look at the 256GB model, but for that price you might as well get the 2024 tablet.
Apple Intelligence is available on devices with Apple A Pro chipsets and M-series chips, such as the new iPad Pros. These are still the only devices with the Apple M4 chip and the performance gain over the old M2-based iPad Pros is enormous.
We paired the 256GB (also available with 512GB storage) and 1TB (and 2TB) versions of the iPad Pro (2024) together and they are different. The smaller capacity models have 8 GB of RAM and 9-core CPUs, while the higher capacity models have 16 GB of RAM and 10-core CPUs. Only the higher capacity tablets have the option of nano-textured glass, but keep in mind that this is an expensive upgrade.
In addition to tablets, the new Apple AirPods 4 are also available in two variants: without ANC and with ANC. Active noise cancellation costs extra, but you’ll appreciate its benefits when you’re traveling or working in a noisy office. The ANC-compatible model also features wireless charging (you can use your Apple Watch charger or MagSafe charger) and a small speaker helps you find the case.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is thinner and lighter than previous models while also having the largest display of all Apple smartwatches. It’s a kind of mini Ultra with a depth gauge that can track your dives to a depth of 6 meters (and there’s also a water temperature sensor). Apple has also upgraded the speaker, so you can listen to music or a podcast directly from your watch, without the need for headphones.
You can still buy the older Apple Watch Series 9. It got the sleep apnea tracking feature as an update with watchOS 11. It has an ECG sensor and heart rate monitoring, but note that Series 9 and 10 watches (and the Ultra 2) have their blood-oxygen sensor disabled in the US .
Finally, the 2023 Apple Mac mini has a nice discount with the help of a coupon. This is 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 doesn’t have a fan, but it is whisper quiet. macOS also gets a dose of Apple Intelligence.
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