Subj : The iPad mini 7 is now the cheapest way to get Apple Intelligence To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Tue Oct 15 2024 23:15:05 The iPad mini 7 is now the cheapest way to get Apple Intelligence - heres why it could be the best too Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2024 22:00:10 +0000 Description: The iPad mini 7 is now the cheapest way to get Apple Intelligence - heres why it could be the best too FULL STORY ====================================================================== Apple's formally announced the new iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence compatibility. As an iPad mini fan since the original first launched in 2012, the tiny tablet has a soft spot in my heart, and this new model could have one in yours, too. Up until today, the M2 Mac mini was the cheapest way to try Apple Intelligence, but its not portable and needs extra peripherals to use, which ramps up the price. Mac mini aside, the iPhone 16 was the next cheapest entry point into the world of Apple Intelligence, but that device starts at $799 / 799. Now, thats all changed with Apples iPad mini announcement; the new tablet brings everything Apple Intelligence offers, starting from $499/499 for the 128GB model. This means the new iPad mini is the cheapest entry point for those looking to try Apple Intelligence, almost a system seller in itself. Apple Intelligence for less (Image credit: Apple) Ive been using Apple Intelligence on the iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 betas since Apple first announced the AI features in June, and Ive been scratching my head at the price of entry since. To use Apple Intelligence on an iPhone you need one of the best iPhones from the iPhone 16 lineup or the previous flagship iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max models, none of these smartphones are cheap, however, and even iPhone 15 owners are left in an AI-less past. On the iPad side, until todays announcement, you needed an M-series iPad, with the lowest price offering being the M2 iPad Air for $549/549, a much lower entry point to Apple Intelligence compared to the iPhone but still above that $500 mark. With the arrival of a sub-$500 iPad mini capable of Apple Intelligence, theres now an accessible entry point for anyone who wants to give Apples AI tools a go without forking out for a more expensive product. Yes, thats only $50 less than the Air, but $50 matters, especially when youre not sure youll even use the AI features youre upgrading for. Since Apple Intelligences reveal at WWDC, Ive thought that the softwares success will be based on how many people actually use it, and one of the biggest reasons people wont be using Apple Intelligence is because of the initial cost of upgrading to a compatible device. Apples strategy with the new iPad mini could work out massively in the companys favor as people opt for the small tablet as a first exposure to Apple Intelligence before forking out on a new iPhone or iPad in the future. My partner is a great example of this; she owns the iPhone 15 and was left disappointed when she found out that her not-even one-year-old device wouldnt be compatible with the next evolution of Apple software. Shes not in the market for a new iPhone at the moment and Apple Intelligence hasnt even been released yet, and shes not sure shell even use it. Still, an iPad mini with Apple Intelligence functionality could work as a gateway to seeing what Apple AI is capable of. She wont be the only one tempted to try the iPad mini to get cheaper access to Apple Intelligence, and if those consumers are impressed, they might be first in line for the iPhone 17 , unable to live without an Apple Intelligence-compatible smartphone. You might also like... The best iPad 2024: top Apple tablets to consider right now I ditched my laptop for an iPad Pro for a few weeks heres what I learned Your M4 iPad Pro can finally get iPadOS 18 after Apple squashes device-breaking bug ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/tablets/ipad-mini/the-ipad-mini-7-is-now-the-cheapes t-way-to-get-apple-intelligence-heres-why-it-could-be-the-best-too --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .