Apple introduces redesigned iPad Mini with 8.3-inch display and 5G connectivity

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The new iPad Mini from Apple

Screenshot by Sara Tew / CNET This story is part of Apple Event, our full coverage of the latest news from Apple.

Apple unveiled the next generation of its iPad Mini on Tuesday, the company’s most significant upgrade to its smallest tablet in years.

The new device has a redesigned body, with an 8.3-inch display, rounded edges, and volume buttons moved from the side of the device to the top. The power button has a Touch ID fingerprint sensor and there is a USB-C charging port on the bottom of the device. The tablet will support 5G connectivity and will start at $ 499 (479, AU $ 749). It is available starting next week.

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The iPad Mini also includes support for the second generation Apple Pencil, the tablet stylus that has been popular with digital artists. It has a 12 megapixel camera and comes in four colors: purple, pink, starlight (white) and space gray.

“Today we are giving our smallest iPad the biggest upgrade ever,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said at a virtual launch event.

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With the new addition to the lineup, Apple hopes to build on the recent momentum for a once struggling product category. Tablet sales have suffered in recent years, but the devices have resurrected during the pandemic as people took refuge on site and worked remotely. In the first quarter of 2021, iPad sales increased nearly 80 percent from the previous year. The PC market has experienced a similar momentum, apparently limited only by the global shortage of chips that has slowed production of everything from video game consoles to Ford trucks.

Just like the iPhone, Apple makes several different types of iPads, ranging from the entry-level iPad Mini to the iPad Pro almost a computer. What has helped the iPad stand out is its slim design, optional keyboard cover, and Apple Pencil. Apple also proposed the iPad as a device for schools, designing apps for books and learning, while also offering specialized discounts.

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