Apple launched its much-awaited new series of iPad, iPad Mini 7 on Tuesday [15-10-2024]. Though it is the biggest boom for tech enthusiasts the revelation of using the A17 pro chip takes many aback. Many claim this is the same chip as in the iPhone 15 Pro, it seems Apple has used the binned version of the chip as a strategy to reduce the component cost.
iPad Mini 7 to use an A17 Pro Chip, a binned version of the iPhone 15 Pro Chip
After three years of waiting Apple has finally launched the successor to the iPad Mini 6, the iPad Mini 7. From a common man’s point of view, the newer version is visibly similar to its predecessor, however, for a techie, it poses many variations including hardware upgrades. One of the unexpected changes was the use of an A17 Pro chip, as many expected at least an A18 Pro, resulting in a slower SoC than last year’s Pro models.
The A17 chip used in the iPhone has a 6-core CPU and 6-core GPU, whereas, in the iPad Mini 7, the chip has a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU, one less than the iPhone Pro model. However, both hold 8 GB RAM. It’s not the first time Apple has used binned chips the same happened in some earlier devices.
Since iPhone 15 and 15 Pro Max were discontinued in September, it’s obvious that many A17 chips remain unused, and as part of the component cost reduction, they might have been reused.
A chip binning is done in chips that have failed to attain maximum performance of all the cores, some cores are deactivated as a result. According to experts, since only one GPU core is deactivated, the overall performance won’t be a concern.
Exciting features in iPad Mini 7
Every launch of Apple comes with some exciting and unique features, and the iPad Mini 7 is no different.
- Uses an A17 pro chip with a 30% increase in performance.
- Improved AI features including AI-assisted Siri and writing tools.
- Supports Apple Pencil, Apple Hover, and Apple Pencil Pro.
- 12 MP wide camera, 4K video, and 12 MP ultra-wide front camera.
- Landscape stereo speakers.
- Wifi only model or wifi + cellular model.
- Touch ID on the power button.
- Smart HDR for photos.
Is the Apple iPad Mini 7 worth buying?
The iPad Mini 7 looks promising, with potential improvements in hardware upgrades and graphics. The Apple iPad Mini 7 is compatible with Apple Intelligence, which would be expected to launch in the iPadOS 18.1 update.
The A17 Pro chip is up to 30% faster in iPad Mini 7 than the prior models and supports the best iPad games with a greater runway than the iPad 6. The cost of a 64 GB iPad Mini 6 is $499, whereas an iPad Mini 7 with a minimum of 128 GB storage prices the same and is available in 4 different colors including Blue, Purple, Starlit, and Straight Grey (the color options are two in iPad 6).
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