Photo: KK IN HK / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons · source
iPad mini
Apple's first small tablet, light enough to hold in one hand.
Overview
The original iPad mini was Apple's answer to the rising wave of seven-inch Android tablets. Rather than shrinking the screen to a phone-like 4:3, it kept the iPad's aspect ratio and software, so every existing iPad app ran without changes.
The design borrowed from the iPhone 5, with a chamfered aluminum edge, anodized finish and a Lightning port, and it weighed roughly a third less than a full-size iPad. Internally it used the same A5 chip as the iPad 2, which kept the price low at the cost of a non-Retina screen with 163 pixels per inch.
Cameras were better than the iPad 2's: a 5-megapixel rear sensor and a 720p FaceTime HD front camera. The Wi-Fi model launched first, and the LTE version followed two weeks later.
Why it mattered
It opened the small-tablet segment for Apple and became a lasting product line that remains on sale today.
At a glance
- Announced
- October 23, 2012
- Released
- November 2, 2012
- Discontinued
- June 19, 2015
- Launch price
- $329
- Chip
- Apple A5, 1 GHz dual-core
- Display
- 7.9"
- Storage
- 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- 7.9-inch display in a 7.2 mm thin body
- A5 chip with 512 MB of memory
- 5 MP rear and 1.2 MP FaceTime HD cameras
- First iPad with Lightning from the start
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 7.9-inch
- Type
- LED-backlit IPS multi-touch
- Resolution
- 1024 x 768 (163 ppi)
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
Chip
- Chip
- Apple A5, 1 GHz dual-core
- Graphics
- PowerVR SGX543MP2
Memory
- RAM
- 512 MB
- Storage options
- 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
Camera
- Rear camera
- 5 MP iSight, 1080p video
- Front camera
- 1.2 MP FaceTime HD, 720p video
Battery
- Battery life
- Up to 10 hours of web, video or music
- Capacity
- About 16.3 Wh
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11a/b/g/n, dual-band
- Cellular
- Optional 4G LTE model with nano-SIM
- Connector
- Lightning
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 4.0
Accessories
- Apple Pencil
- Not supported
- Keyboard
- Bluetooth keyboards and third-party cases
Design
- Dimensions
- 200 x 134.7 x 7.2 mm
- Weight
- 308 g (Wi-Fi), 312 g (cellular)
Security
- Authentication
- Passcode lock
Software
- Launch OS
- iOS 6.0
- Latest supported OS
- iOS 9.3.5 (Wi-Fi), 9.3.6 (cellular)
How it compares
More in the iPad mini family
iPad mini 2
The small iPad gets its Retina screen and a 64-bit brain.
iPad mini 3
Same mini, now with Touch ID and a gold finish.
iPad mini 4
An Air 2 in miniature, with a laminated screen and 2 GB of RAM.
iPad mini (5th generation)
After four years, the mini comes back with Apple Pencil.
iPad mini (6th generation)
A complete redesign: bigger screen, USB-C and no home button.
iPad mini (A17 Pro)
The pocketable iPad gets an iPhone-class A17 Pro and Apple Intelligence.
