Buzz
It's been 2 years since the release of the iPad Mini 5, and on September 14th, Apple officially announced the new iPad Mini 6 at the Keynote event along with updates for this line of devices.
The iPad Mini 6, dubbed by Apple as a 'completely redesigned' model, brings many significant changes, including the A15 Bionic chip, an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, support for Apple Pencil 2, improved camera, and 5G connectivity. These are exactly what iPad Mini fans have been waiting for.
The iPad Mini 6 is now available for pre-order on the Apple Store and will officially hit the shelves at authorized retailers on September 24th. Here's everything you need to know about the latest iPad Mini, including its pricing and features.
What is the official price of the iPad Mini 6?
The newest iPad Mini 6 is now available on Apple Store, offering two configurations as usual: only Wi-Fi and Cellular.
- iPad Mini 6 only Wi-Fi (64GB) is priced at 499 USD (equivalent to 11.2 million Vietnamese Dong)
- iPad Mini 6 only Wi-Fi (256GB) is priced at 649 USD (equivalent to 14.6 million Vietnamese Dong)
- iPad Mini 6 Wi-Fi + Cellular (64GB) is priced at 649 USD (equivalent to 14.6 million Vietnamese Dong)
- iPad Mini 6 Wi-Fi + Cellular (256GB) is priced at 799 USD (equivalent to 18 million Vietnamese Dong)
Compared to its predecessor, the iPad Mini 6 has a list price of $100 higher (equivalent to 2.2 million Vietnamese Dong). This price difference may be attributed to the global component shortage due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, shipping costs to consumers will also be higher than usual.
The 2021 iPad Mini version will come in finishes of Black, Pink, Starlight, Purple, and Space Gray.
What will the design of the 2021 iPad Mini be like?
The most noticeable change in the iPad Mini 6 is the larger 8.3-inch display, compared to its predecessor's 7.9-inch screen. Additionally, the narrower bezels provide a more comfortable viewing experience with increased usable screen area.
The brightness of the Mini 6 screen reaches a maximum of 500 nits, along with a wide P3 color gamut and True Tone. According to Apple, it's also equipped with a new anti-reflective layer to make the Mini 6 screen one of the least reflective displays in the industry.
In addition, Apple has relocated the Touch ID sensor to the top button.
Features and Specifications of iPad Mini 6
The biggest change in iPad Mini 6 must be the introduction of the new A15 Bionic chip with remarkable performance enhancements, surpassing even the latest iPad Air.
According to Apple, the 6-core CPU increases performance by 40% while the 5-core GPU boosts graphics performance by up to 80% compared to the previous generation. Additionally, the company promises that the new processor will enable the Mini 6 to handle the most demanding tasks, from 3D graphics-intensive games to professional applications for specialized industries such as design, aviation, and medicine...
Of course, these are just numbers on paper, and to find out if the iPad Mini 6 achieves such efficiency, we still have to wait for its official launch.
Another notable piece of information is that Apple states the new A15 Bionic chip will enable the iPad Mini 6 to quickly learn user habits based on the 16-core Neural Engine platform, promising a more convenient and intelligent user experience. Specifically, its learning speed is said to be twice as fast as the previous generation of iPad Mini.
5G Connectivity and USB-C
Another significant improvement of the new iPad Mini is its 5G connectivity. Apple claims 5G speeds up to 3.5Gbps, but the exact figure depends on the 5G infrastructure in each country.
Other connectivity features include Gigabit LTE, eSIM, and Wi-Fi 6.
For wired connections, Apple has equipped the Mini 6 with a USB-C port, allowing data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps, ten times faster than the iPad Mini 5. Additionally, the USB-C port expands the connectivity capabilities of the Mini 6, enabling you to connect to various devices and accessories such as cameras, external storage, and 4K displays.
12Mp Camera with Center Stage
The Mini 6 camera is also upgraded with Center Stage. This feature, debuted on the iPad Pro 2021, allows the camera to automatically pan and adjust to the subject. With the 12MP Ultra Wide front camera, boasting a 122-degree field of view, selfies taken with the Mini 6 promise to be as sharp as those from a smartphone. This marks a significant advancement compared to the 1.2MP front camera on the Mini 5.
Similarly, the rear camera also features a 12MP sensor with Focus Pixels support, a larger f/1.8 aperture, Smart HDR, and 4K video support.
Apple Pencil 2
iPad Mini 6 is compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil. The pencil attaches to the device magnetically for charging and wireless pairing.
Software
iPad Mini 6 runs on the iPadOS 15 platform, released in beta for developers on June 7, 2021, with the official launch in July.
iPadOS 15 enhances the experience of widgets on the home screen with more options and larger display formats. Due to some of your frequently used apps being pushed to the second screen, Apple is currently working on implementing an app library for easier access from the Dock, making it easier to control and search for them.
- Quick Note is used to quickly create notes across the system. Combined with the Apple Pencil, you can create new notes by swiping from any corner of the screen, on any app.
- Swift Playgrounds allows developers to build, test, and even submit iPhone or iPad apps to Apple for review, along with improvements to Siri's privacy settings for voice recognition on the device.
Above are the new features of the iPad Mini 6 tablet. If you're a fan of this product line, you definitely won't want to miss the opportunity to own it this year. The product is now available on the Apple Store, and you can pre-order it starting today.
