Apple quietly released the iPad mini 4, which replaces the iPad mini 3 from last year. The new 4th generation tablet keeps the same 7.9-inch screen size, retina display resolution, and price points. Upgrades include a faster A8 chip with M8 coprocessor, Bluetooth 4.2, speedier Wi-Fi, and a better (8-megapixel) camera with some extra photo features — slo-mo video and burst mode. Touch ID is also included.
Apple iPad mini 4 is even thinner and lighter than the previous models at just 6.1mm thin compared to 7.5mm, that’s almost 19% thinner. Oddly the mini 4 is also 3.2mm taller (1.6%), while width is essentially the same with 0.1 mm difference. Lastly, the new mini sheds a few grams and comes in about 10% lighter.
Given the size differences, it is likely most iPad mini 2 & 3 cases will not fit the mini 4. It is expected a steady stream of new mini 4 cases will hit the market soon, but in the meantime Apple already has a Smart Cover for $39 or a silicon case for $59, each in 10 different colors.
Apple also announced a $30 price-cut for iPad mini 2, and has dropped iPad mini 3 from their product line-up for 2015. That makes the iPad mini 2 a compelling choice, and the cheapest Apple iPad ever starting at $269.
Price and Availability
The iPad mini 4 is now available in space gray, silver, or gold colors in the follow configurations:
- 16GB $399 (Wi-Fi) or $529 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
- 64GB $499 (Wi-Fi) or $629 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
- 128GB $599 (Wi-Fi) or $729 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
iPad mini 2 new pricing for 2015:
- 16GB $269 (Wi-Fi) or $399 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
- 32GB $319 (Wi-Fi) or $449 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
Specifications & Comparison
| iPad mini 4 | iPad mini 2 |
| Wi-Fi: 16GB $399 64GB $499 128GB $599 |
Wi-Fi: 16GB $269 32GB $319 |
| Wi-Fi + Cellular: 16GB $529 64GB $629 128GB $729 |
Wi-Fi + Cellular: 16GB $399 32GB $449 |
| Height 8 inches (203.2 mm) |
Height 7.87 inches (200 mm) |
| Width 5.3 inches (134.8 mm) |
Width 5.3 inches (134.7 mm) |
| Depth 0.24 inches (6.1 mm) |
Depth 0.29 inch (7.5 mm) |
| Weight (Wi-Fi) 0.65 pound (298.8 grams) |
Weight (Wi-Fi) 0.73 pound (331 grams) |
| Weight (Wi-Fi + Cellular) 0.67 pound (304 grams) |
Weight (Wi-Fi + Cellular) 0.75 pound (341 grams) |
| 7.9‑inch (diagonal) LED‑backlit Multi‑Touch Retina display | 7.9‑inch (diagonal) LED‑backlit Multi‑Touch Retina display |
| 2048×1536 resolution at 326 pixels per inch (ppi) | 2048×1536 resolution at 326 pixels per inch (ppi) |
| Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating | Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating |
| Fully laminated display | — |
| Antireflective coating | — |
| A8 second-generation chip with 64-bit architecture Compared to A7: CPU: 1.3x faster Graphics: 1.6x faster |
A7 chip with 64-bit architecture |
| M8 motion coprocessor | M7 motion coprocessor |
| FaceTime HD Camera (Front) | FaceTime HD Camera (Front) |
| 1.2MP photos | 1.2MP photos |
| 720p HD video | 720p HD video |
| FaceTime video calling over Wi‑Fi or cellular | FaceTime video calling over Wi‑Fi or cellular |
| Face detection | Face detection |
| Backside illumination | Backside illumination |
| Burst mode | — |
| iSight Camera (Rear) | iSight Camera (Rear) |
| 8MP photos | 5MP photos |
| Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Face detection | Face detection |
| Backside illumination | Backside illumination |
| Five‑element lens | Five‑element lens |
| Hybrid IR filter | Hybrid IR filter |
| ƒ/2.4 aperture | ƒ/2.4 aperture |
| HDR photos | HDR photos |
| Panorama | Panorama |
| Burst mode | — |
| Video Recording | Video Recording |
| 1080p HD video recording | 1080p HD video recording |
| Tap to focus while recording | Tap to focus while recording |
| Video stabilization | Video stabilization |
| Face detection | Face detection |
| Backside illumination | Backside illumination |
| 3x video zoom | 3x video zoom |
| Time-lapse video with stabilization | Time-lapse video |
| Slo-mo video | — |
| Touch ID | — |
| Fingerprint identity sensor built into the Home button | — |
| Pay with your iPad using Touch ID within apps | — |
| Receive and redeem rewards using rewards cards | — |
| Wi‑Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac); dual channel (2.4GHz and 5GHz) | Wi‑Fi (802.11a/b/g/n); dual channel (2.4GHz and 5GHz) |
| MIMO | MIMO |
| Bluetooth 4.2 technology | Bluetooth 4.0 technology |
| Wi-Fi + Cellular | Wi-Fi + Cellular |
| GSM/EDGE | GSM/EDGE |
| CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B | CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B |
| UMTS/HSPA/ HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA | UMTS/HSPA/ HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA |
| LTE | LTE |
| Data only | Data only |
| Nano-SIM (supports Apple SIM) |
Nano-SIM |
| Lightning | Lightning |
| 10 hour battery life | 10 hour battery life |
| Three-axis gyro | Three-axis gyro |
| Accelerometer | Accelerometer |
| Ambient light sensor | Ambient light sensor |
| Barometer | — |
