Apple Launches Latest IPad Mini With A17 Pro Chip, Complete Feature And Gahar

New iPad mini display (photo; x @Chibi_Loyal)

JAKARTA Apple officially announced the latest generation iPad mini equipped with the A17 Pro chip, the same chip as the iPhone 15 Pro. With the presence of this chip, the latest iPad mini is capable of running the Apple Intelligence feature in full. In addition, this device also supports Apple's Install Pro, providing users with a more professional writing and drawing experience.

This latest mini iPad is priced at US$499 (Rp7.7 million) for the 128 GB version, which means the storage is twice as large as the previous model without any price increases. Orders for the mini iPad can now be made, and deliveries will begin on October 23, 2024.

The A17 Pro chip on the iPad mini brings a significant performance improvement. This new CPU is claimed to be up to 30% faster than the previous generation's A15 Bionic chip. In addition, the GPU is 25% faster, providing smoother graphic performance especially when used for playing games or heavy apps.

Another advantage of this chip is to support higher data transfer rates via a USB-C port. With the A17 Pro, the USB-C port on the mini iPad is capable of reaching transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps, double the previous generation speed of only 5 Gbps. Users will also enjoy faster connectivity with 6E Wi-Fi support, which was not yet available in the previous model.

In terms of appearance, this latest iPad mini almost does not experience a massive design change, still retaining its compact size which is its trademark. However, Apple presents a fresher new color choice such as blue and purple.

One striking design change is the presence of a magnetic area on the tablet side, which functions to charge the Apple Remote Pro wirelessly. Apple Pencil Pro can be paired automatically with a mini iPad when placed in that area. In addition, the iPad mini also supports Apple Pencil with a USB-C port for charging via cable.

Thanks to the A17 Pro, photography capabilities in the iPad mini have also improved. This device now supports the Smart HDR 4 feature, which provides better image quality than the previous generation, which only supports Smart HDR 3. Although the size of the iPad mini makes it rarely used as the main device for photography, its ability to take pictures is now becoming more capable.

One of the most significant improvements is Apple Pencil Pro's support, replacing second-generation Apple Pencil support in previous models. The latest iPad mini also supports the Pencil Hover feature, a feature first introduced to the iPad Pro with the M2 chip.

This feature allows users to perform various new gestures when Apple Pencil is brought to the screen without touching it, enriching the user's experience in writing or drawing on this device.

The latest iPad mini will be delivered with iOS 18, but some Apple Intelligence features such as Writing Tools and new Reduce Interruptions modes will be available via iOS 18.1 update. This update is expected to be released at the end of October.

This latest mini iPad is available in two configurations: Wi-Fi versions with prices starting at $499 and mobile versions at a price of $649. Its internal storage starts at 128 GB, but users can select configurations up to 512 GB.

Apple rarely updates the iPad mini, so every technical upgrade is important to keep this device relevant and modern. With this series of updates, the latest iPad mini offers a significant variety of improvements, both in terms of performance, design, and advanced features that support user productivity.