IPad Mini 7: Affordable Apple Intelligence Experience With Some Annoying Limitations

Apple recently took the wraps off its newest member of the ultraportable iPad lineup. The iPad Mini 7 arrived with an identical design to its now three-year-old predecessor. That said, the new offering is more capable than the previous iPad Mini 6. Thanks to the A17 Pro chipset and 8GB of RAM, the latest iPad Mini 7 is the cheapest way to experience Apple Intelligence features. However, the new Mini has certain annoying limitations which hold it back from being a perfect upgrade. What are those trade-offs? Should you care about them? Here’s what I found missing in the iPad Mini 7.

1. A Binned Version of A17 Pro

The new iPad Mini 7 might feature an A17 Pro chipset that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro models last year, but the iPad has a binned version of that chip. In the iPhone 15 Pro models, the A17 Pro chip has a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU, paired with 8GB of RAM. While the chip in the iPad Mini also has 8GB of RAM for AI capabilities, iPad Mini 7 Tech Specs suggests that it features a binned version of the chip with fewer cores. Specifically speaking, the A17 Pro chip in the iPad mini 7 has a 5-core GPU, compared to the 6-core GPU in the iPhone 15 Pro models. That means you can’t expect an iPhone 15 Pro-like graphics performance on the iPad Mini 7. Even benchmarks have revealed that the iPad Mini 7 is slower than the iPhone 15 Pro.

Well, this isn’t a surprise as Apple has used binned versions of its chipset in some devices before. For reference, Chip Binning is a quality control process used in the manufacturing of computer chips to maximize supply chain yield and reduce waste. Rather than scrapping chips with one defective GPU core, Apple has likely disabled that core to salvage those chips for the iPad Mini 7.

Despite having a binned version, everyday tasks on the iPad Mini 7 shouldn’t be affected. However, it would have been much better if Apple introduced the iPad Mini 7 with A18 or A18 Pro chipset for better future-proofing. After all, Apple doesn’t refresh its ultraportable lineup every year. The new Mini 7 was introduced just over three years after the iPad Mini 6 launch in September 2021.

3. An Outdated 60Hz Display

Before the launch, there were several rumors that the new iPad Mini 7 would arrive with some impressive display improvements. We expected to see an upgraded ProMotion display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Unfortunately, Apple hasn’t got past its 60Hz refresh rate obsession. The new iPad Mini 7 with Apple Intelligence support still has an outdated 60Hz display. The new iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, and iPad Air M2 (2024) are also stuck with the same 60Hz screens, so we might not see it as a dealbreaker on the affordable Mini. However, it could be a damn big deal if Apple hasn’t fixed the jelly scrolling issue. There were strong rumors and speculations that Apple would definitely make some changes to the iPad mini’s display to fix the infamous “jelly scrolling” issue, once and for all. 

For reference, Jelly Scrolling is a display phenomenon that gives you the illusion that one side of the display responds faster than the other. This gives a noticeable lag when scrolling in the Portrait orientation. At that time, Apple said it was normal for an LCD screen to exhibit such behavior, but they were serious about minimizing the effect. However, Apple didn’t explicitly mention if the issue has been fixed in the new Mini. If not, it would raise concerns over the display quality. We’ll test the iPad Mini 7 to figure out if Apple has fixed the jelly-scrolling issue or not.

3. No Phone Calls

Despite being packed with a powerful A17 Pro chipset, 5G connectivity, iMessage, FaceTime, and other communication tools, the iPad Mini 7 still can’t make calls natively. We all know that an iPad, even if it’s a cellular model can’t directly access cellular voice or messaging features. A cellular iPad model can only access IP data service. If you wish to make or receive calls on your iPad, you have to set up your iPhone to allow calls on your other devices. Sitting at 8.3 inches, an iPad Mini 7 is pretty big to hold up to your ear, but it would be ideal for phone calls when paired with AirPods or another compatible headset.

No native phone calls feel a major missing, especially when the market is full of tablets that can make calls over LTE. Priced at $649, the Wi-Fi + 5G model of the iPad Mini 7 is still more affordable than the base model of the iPhone 16, which starts at $799. If Apple enabled phone call functionality, the iPad Mini 7 would be a capable Apple Intelligence device that could even replace your iPhones. Imagine a portable and affordable device that can handle everything from phone calls to AI features. This could have been a game changer for students, travelers, and users with a similar preference.

Is it worth buying an iPad Mini 7?

Besides these limitations, the new iPad Mini makes a solid option to experience Apple Intelligence. It would be nice if Apple wiped off the above issues, but it might also make the Mini 7 an expensive affair. It’s clear that Apple hasn’t offered anything premium, but it’s nice to see double storage and AI capabilities, without any price hikes. When paired with little quality-of-life improvements like Wi-Fi 6E support and Apple Pencil Pro support, the Mini 7 would please fans of the most portable Apple tablet.

The lack of the above features holds the iPad Mini 7 back from becoming the perfect device, but it still bags the title of the most affordable device with Apple Intelligence. When Apple releases its AI suite of features, you should be able to use everything, from Writing Tools to all-new powerful Siri.

It’s with knowing that Apple is likely is launch its next-generation affordable iPhone lineup, the iPhone SE 4 in early 2025.  The upcoming iPhone SE 4 is anticipated to arrive with an A18 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and Apple Intelligence support. Interestingly, the iPhone SE 4 is rumored to launch with a similar $429 price tag, though there may be a 10 percent price increase. Even if Apple increases the price by this margin, the iPhone SE 4 would not exceed the $500 mark, which would make it the cheapest way to enter the Apple Intelligence ecosystem.

Therefore, the iPad Mini 7 will be the cheapest way alongside the iPhone SE 4 once it launches early next year.

What are your thoughts on the iPad Mini 7? Are you planning to buy the new Mini? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.