Apple iPad mini 2024 Latest Release Date: Confirmed with all details

Updated October 15th with full details on exact release date and pricing.

Apple just announced its new iPad mini much earlier than most expected, including Mark Gurman, whose prediction of a reveal “around the end of October” was overtaken by events. Here's what we know.

As you will read below, I thought today, Tuesday October 15th, was a likely possibility, so I'm glad it turned out to be correct. And that now tells us the exact release date.

Apple iPad mini release date: Wednesday, October 23rd

I don't know the exact date: I predicted Friday, October 25th. So if you feel like it, you can secure it two days early.

Apple iPad mini pre-orders: Tuesday, October 15th

Pre-orders have just gone live and are getting ready for the on-sale date next week.

Prices for the Apple iPad mini

Pricing is the same as last time, starting at $499 for the Wi-Fi model and $649 for the Wi-Fi and Cellular model. However, there is one notable change: the previous model had 64GB of storage in the lowest capacity version. This now doubles to 128GB.

There are also versions with 256GB and 512GB storage.

Prices in the UK range from £499 to £649 for the 128GB storage models with Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi and cellular respectively. Read on to see what and when has been predicted so far.

Apple iPad mini release date: sooner than expected?

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the iPad mini is expected to go on sale on Friday, November 1st. The announcement will be made “towards the end of October” along with new MacBook Pro models.

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That makes sense, but I wonder if Apple might decide to go with a different schedule.

Last October, Apple unveiled new Macs at a pre-Halloween event called “Scary Fast.” Apple may do the same this year and focus an event like last year solely on the Mac.

If this were the case, that would mean the new iPad mini could launch at any time and sooner than Gurman expected. After all, products released now will take the top spot as holiday gifts, and while November 1st is a good release date, an earlier date would be even better.

Friday is always the day of the week when an Apple product goes on sale. So if it's not Friday November 1st, there are two Fridays before it: October 18th and October 25th. The first of these might be too early, and while that doesn't make it impossible, I prefer the latter.

However, if Gurman's expectation of iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 on Monday, October 28th is correct, that could still point to a November 1st release date.

Apple iPad mini release date

This would mean that the iPad mini would be unveiled through a press release rather than a big event and keynote. That doesn't mean there won't be a Mac keynote, as there was this year.

However, if Apple is committed to making this event exclusive to Macs, the date when the iPad mini will be unveiled could be as early as next week, in the week starting Monday, October 14th.

Apple likes announcements on Tuesday or Wednesday (though not always: the iPhone 16 was unveiled on a Monday in September this year), so Tuesday October 15th and Wednesday October 16th are worth checking out Keep your eyes peeled in case there is an announcement.

Expectations of the Apple iPad mini

The new iPad mini is expected to look the same as the current one, but in a revised color palette. It will have a new processor that will almost certainly support Apple Intelligence. Expect support for the latest stylus, the Apple Pencil Pro, and an improved 8.5-inch display.

Check back to find out more as soon as we have it.

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