Apple unveils the new iPad mini 6 in the series’ biggest shake-up since 2019

The iPad mini has seen a major design refresh – here’s everything you need to know, from specs to price.

By Jason Murdock

Published: Tuesday, 14 September 2021 at 12:00 am

Tonight we’ve been treated to previews of a whole host of Apple devices, including the all-new iPad mini 6. Arguably one of the Apple event highlights, the mini has seen its “biggest upgrade ever”.

Apple’s Product Manager of iPad, Katie McDonald, talked us through the first major iPad mini design refresh in years and the impressive specs of the 8.3-inch tablet.

Here’s everything that you need to know about the tech giant’s tinniest tablet, the Apple iPad mini –  including its release date, specifications, price, colourways and more.

Looking to find out more about Apple’s other upcoming products? Head to our Apple Watch 7 release date and iPhone 13 release date pages. Notably absent at the September 2021 Apple event, however, was any news of the AirPods 3 release date.

iPad mini 6 release date: in stores 24th September

The new iPad mini 6 was announced at the California Streaming event, and unlike many other devices in the line-up, the new iPad is available to order today. It will be in shops from Friday 24th September.

iPad mini 6 specs, design and colours

A revamped design of the iPad mini is definitely one of the most appealing aspects of the new tablet’s release. As rumours predicted, there’s no longer a home button, the iPad mini 6 supports the 2nd generation Apple Pencil, and there’s a USB-C port. Plus, the aluminium in the enclosure is 100 per cent recycled. The 7.9-inch mini’s last upgrade came in 2019 when it was given a new A12 Bionic chip and Apple Pencil support, but the design of the tablet remained the same.

Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, claims the new generation is “a huge leap forward that can be held in the palm of your hand.” The 6th generation iPad mini runs on iPadOS 15, which is available from Monday 20th September. If you’ve got an older model, you can update to iPadOS 15 on the iPad mini 4 and later, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and every iPad Pro model.

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iPad mini 6 specs

Much like all of the updated Apple devices, the new iPad mini’s performance sees a significant boost compared to its predecessors.

iPad mini 6 camera and video

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iPad mini 6 colours

The iPad mini 6 is available in four finishes – pink, starlight, purple and space grey. Plus, there are Smart Folio covers to coordinate with the new finishes, which come in black, white, dark cherry, English lavender and electric orange.

iPad mini 6 price and where to buy

The iPad mini 6 starts at $499, and the Wi-Fi + Cellular models start at $649.

The 5th generation iPad mini started at £399 for the Wi‑Fi version and from £519 for a Wi‑Fi-Cellular version.

The iPad mini 6 is available to buy from the Apple website, but we’re sure it will be available from major retailers such as John Lewis, Currys and AO very soon.

If you want to read a deep dive into the differences between the previous generations of iPads, our experts have tested a variety of Apple’s tablets here at RadioTimes.com. Check out our iPad mini (2019) review, iPad Air (2020) review and iPad Pro (2021) review. To see how two major iPads compare, don’t miss our Apple iPad Pro vs iPad Air explainer.

For the latest news, reviews and deals, check out the RadioTimes.com Technology section. Want a tablet and not sure what to buy? Read our guide to the best tablet. Already have an iPad? Don’t miss out on the best Apple iPad accessories.