The iPad mini 2021 is one of the more recent versions of Apple’s tablet device that has been upgraded with the A12 Bionic chip which provides faster processing speeds and enhanced graphics.
iPad mini: Buyer’s Guide, Should You Buy?
As the iPad mini is now 18 months old and a new model is in development, those who want the latest hardware should wait for a refresh to buy. The iPad Air features a Smart Connector on its rear to connect to keyboard cases and its larger, 10.9-inch display is better for productivity tasks and media consumption.
iPad Mini (5th generation)
[citation needed] Its predecessor, the iPad Mini 4, was discontinued on the same day. It shares a similar design to the iPad Mini 4 and features the Apple A12 Bionic chip, 64 or 256GB storage, a more modernly upgraded 7.9-inch Retina Display with support for Apple Pencil (1st Generation), True Tone display and Bluetooth 5.0. iFixit’s teardown shows this iPad Mini is equipped with an upgraded 3GB of LPDDR4X RAM, the same as the iPhone XR. It has a True Tone display, which allows the LCD to adapt to ambient lighting to change its color and intensity in different environments. The Apple A12 Bionic chip powering the fifth-generation iPad Mini has a 66% higher clock speed than its predecessor, which had a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor; (the Apple A8 in the previous generation was clocked higher than in the iPhone 6).
The Verge rated the Mini 5 as a 8.5 out of 10, praising that it has the same specs as the larger iPad Air and had solid performance while noting that it had a “seven-year-old exterior design with huge bezels” and uses a Lightning port instead of USB-C.[10]
How long does Apple support iPads?
If you have an iPad already or are thinking of picking up an older one, maybe a refurbished model that would save you some money, it’s a good idea to find out how long it will still be able to use apps and services. Here’s a quick guide to how long you should expect an iPad to remain usable.
The crucial thing is whether Apple will update the operating system software that runs on your iPad if it discovers a security flaw. While Apple only issues updates with new features for the current version of the iPadOS, it does issue security updates to older versions of iPadOS, in order to keep older iPads secure.
While full iPadOS updates often require system resources that can be too much for older devices, security updates work under the hood and can usually keep an older model going for years after the point where it can receive a new version of iPadOS. This means that the real defining element of how long an iPad can last is security updates.
Currently iPads that run the following versions of iPadOS are supported with security updates: It’s interesting to note that iOS 12, which runs on some iPads, was last updated in January 2023, but we don’t expect those devices to have coverage in the future.
Despite this iOS 12 coverage, it is best to assume that anything prior to iPadOS 15 is no longer supported with security updates. The key is to know which version of iPadOS your iPad can run, that way you can identify whether Apple is still committed to updating it with security-related fixes. If Apple drops support for iPadOS 15, then we can add the following to the list of unsupported iPads: As an example of a model that’s still supported by Apple, the iPad Air 2 made its debut in 2014, but received the iPadOS 15.7.9 update in September 2023, meaning that it’s still going almost nine years after its initial release.
Another senior model that received that update was the iPad mini (4th Generation) which came out in 2015. This means that in January 2023 Apple was supporting ten-year-old iPads with security updates, while in September 2023 the company issued a security update that was compatible with the then nine-year-old iPad Air 2.
While security updates are important because they protect the user from those with malicious intent, if your iPad goes wrong you will want to know whether it will be possible to fix it. Between five and seven years after Apple stops selling products it moves them into the Vintage list.
Then around seven years after Apple stops selling products they are moved into the Obsolete list. Therefore if it has been five years since Apple stopped selling an iPad you are unlikely to be able to get replacement parts if something goes wrong.
So it’s not surprising that when iPadOS 17 launches the following iPads will fall off the supported list since they are already vintage: Say your battery life falls off a cliff, you’ll need to still be within your one-year warranty period to have it repaired for free. Apple does have a battery replacement service though, usually costing $99/£99 for a replacement and fitting, so this could prolong the hardware side of things for a good while (essentially up until it was moved to the vintage list five years after Apple stopped selling it). Apple offers hardware servicing and parts for a range of older iPads, all at a cost of course. Naturally, a ten-year old iPad is an impressive feat of durability, but they won’t be as fun or powerful as a new one.
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Best iPad 2023: Which Apple tablet should you choose?
Apple is also, at long last, bringing its True Tone display tech to its cheapest iPad, ensuring a more comfortable viewing experience, especially indoors. Key specs – Processor: Hexa-core Apple A13 Bionic; Screen: 10.2in (2,160 x 1,620); Storage: 64GB, 256GB; Size: 251 x 174 x 7.5mm; Weight: 487g; Operating system: iPadOS 16
UK relevant … iPad Air less in John Lewis than Apple!
Will be interesting to see how long the Air will be on sale at £569 from retailers other than Apple (John Lewis only had 7 x Space Grey in stock when I ordered). Could have accepted a price tag of £400 for the 10th gen iPad, but at £569 for the Air (vs £499 for the 10th gen), I figured the £70 premium was worth it, plus, I was not overly keen on the colours for the 10th gen….I wanted Starlight and Space Grey, which is what I managed to get on the 2 x Air
Best Apple iPads in 2023
They’re lighter and as capable as most computers, can connect to external mice and keyboards and work better for multitasking, note-taking and drawing when compared to a phone. No matter which iPad you pick, you’ll be getting one of the best tablets, with a slim form factor, a clear multi-touch display, a front and rear camera, a decent amount of storage space for your files and photos, support for wifi and Bluetooth, and solid all-day battery life to keep you going for at least 10 hours of internet browsing.
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