Verdict: The mini 7 is the right buy for anyone purchasing new; mini 6 owners should not upgrade unless Apple Intelligence compatibility is a specific priority.
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Winner: Apple iPad mini 7 (A17 Pro)
Spec-by-spec comparison
Apple iPad mini 7 (A17 Pro)
Apple iPad mini 6
Chip
A17 Pro (3nm)
A15 Bionic (5nm)
Neural Engine
35 TOPS
15.8 TOPS
Apple Intelligence
Yes
No
Display
8.3" Liquid Retina, 326 ppi
8.3" Liquid Retina, 326 ppi
Weight
293g
293g
Front Camera Position
Landscape edge
Portrait edge
Apple iPad mini 7 (A17 Pro)
What works
A17 Pro (3nm): qualifies for Apple Intelligence — mini 6 does not
Landscape front camera — correct position for video calls
Wi-Fi 6E support — faster wireless on compatible routers
What doesn't
$499 new — $140-220 more than used mini 6
No design changes — same chassis, display, and weight as mini 6
Still uses Pencil 2, not Pencil Pro
Apple iPad mini 6
What works
Identical display, chassis, and weight — same 8.3" experience
Used market: $280-360 vs mini 7's $499 new
A15 Bionic still fast for all standard mini use cases
What doesn't
A15 Bionic excluded from Apple Intelligence — hard cutoff
Portrait-edge front camera is poorly positioned for landscape video calls
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