A Look Back at the History of the iPad Mini and What to Expect for the iPad Mini 7

The iPad Mini has come a long way since its debut in 2012. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and see how the beloved mini tablet has evolved over the years. We’ll also speculate on what users can expect for the upcoming iPad Mini 7 based on historical trends and rumors.

The Original iPad Mini – 2012

• Launched October 2012
• 7.9-inch screen was considered very sharp and vibrant for the time
• Reviewers praised the portable and compact design
• Helped popularize the “small tablet” category

Key Features

• 7.9-inch 1024 x 768 resolution display
• A5 chip
• 5MP rear camera
• Available in black & white
• 10 hours battery life
• Starting price of $329

The original iPad Mini was a success and paved the way for smaller tablets. The portability and lower price made it appealing to many users.

iPad Mini 2 – 2013

• Released October 2013, 11 months after the original
• Faster A7 chip (same as iPhone 5s)
• Considered a minor update over the original

Key Features

• Same 7.9-inch 1024 x 768 screen
• A7 chip with 64-bit architecture
• 5MP rear camera
• 10 hours battery life
• Available in Space Gray & Silver
• Starting price of $399

While a little faster, the nearly identical design made the iPad Mini 2 less exciting. But it still offered great value for the price point.

iPad Mini 3 – 2014

• Launched October 2014, 11 months after the iPad Mini 2
• Disappointing minor update over iPad Mini 2
• Reviewers and consumers were underwhelmed

Key Features

• Touch ID fingerprint sensor
• Gold color option
• Starting price of $399

The iPad Mini 3 is considered one of the weakest updates in the lineup. The addition of Touch ID wasn’t compelling enough to get consumers excited about upgrading.

iPad Mini 4 – 2015

• Released October 2015, after a longer wait of 1 year and 2 months
• Slimmer bezels with laminated display
• Faster A8 chip

Key Features

• 7.9-inch 2048 x 1536 retina display
• A8 chip
• 8MP rear camera
• Gold, Silver, and Space Gray colors
• Starting price of $399

The iPad Mini 4 felt like a bigger upgrade with the thin bezels and performance boost. Reviewers praised the fresh design and called it a worthy successor.

iPad Mini 5 – 2019

• Launched in March 2019 after a long wait of 3 years and 5 months
• Added Apple Pencil support for the first time
• Still lagging in features compared to low-cost Android tablets

Key Features

• A12 Bionic chip
• Apple Pencil 1 support
• 7.9-inch 2048 x 1536 retina display
• Touch ID
• 8MP rear camera
• Starting price of $399

The Mini 5 finally got Apple Pencil support, but otherwise wasn’t a huge leap forward. But it kept the iPad Mini relevant and up-to-date.

iPad Mini 6 – 2021

• Released September 2021 after 2 years and 6 months
• Major redesign with 8.3-inch edge-to-edge display
• Powerful A15 Bionic chip puts it on par with iPad Air

Key Features

• All-new thin-bezel design
• 8.3-inch 2266 x 1488 Liquid Retina display
• A15 Bionic chip with Neural Engine
• 12MP Wide rear camera
• USB-C port
• Supports Apple Pencil 2
• Touch ID moved to power button
• Available in Pink, Purple, Starlight, and Space Gray
• Starts at $499

The iPad Mini 6 was a huge upgrade. The fresh design, bigger screen, powerful chip, and Apple Pencil 2 support made it extremely popular. Easily the best iPad Mini yet.

What to Expect for iPad Mini 7

While nothing is confirmed yet, we can make educated guesses on what upgrades the iPad Mini 7 might bring by looking at historical patterns and rumors.

Likely Upgrades

• New A17 or A16 processor for a performance boost
• Base storage bumped up to 128GB from 64GB
• ProMotion display technology with up to 120Hz refresh rate
• Improved rear camera(s)
• New color options

Unlikely Changes

• Significantly larger display
• Major redesign
• 5G connectivity
• Under display Touch ID
• Foldable display

Potential Surprises

• Faster charging or MagSafe charging
• Quad speakers like iPad Pro
• Dual rear cameras
• Smart Connector for keyboard accessories

Release Date & Price

The iPad Mini 7 will likely arrive in September or October 2022. Pricing will probably start again at $499 for the base model. With the rumored upgrades, the iPad Mini 7 is shaping up to be an excellent refinement of the already great iPad Mini 6.

The iPad Mini – Still a Great Small Tablet Option

Despite growing competition from Android devices, the iPad Mini has carved out a nice niche in Apple’s tablet lineup. Its ultra-portable size sets it apart from the larger iPad Air and iPad Pro models. The iPad Mini hits a sweet spot for customers who want iPad functionality in a more pocketable device.

While not always the flashiest releases, Apple has steadily improved the iPad Mini over the past decade. Each generation brings worthwhile enhancements that keep it feeling modern and capable. With its sleek styling, premium build, powerful performance, Apple Pencil support, and relatively affordable starting price, the iPad Mini remains a compelling small tablet choice.