Apple (AAPL.O) has launched the latest generation of its iPad mini, featuring advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, including enhanced writing tools and an upgraded Siri assistant. The announcement was made on Tuesday as the tech giant accelerates its integration of AI into its devices.
The new iPad mini is equipped with Apple’s A17 Pro chip, also found in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models. This powerful six-core processor is expected to deliver a 30% increase in CPU performance compared to its predecessor, making it essential for running Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI software.
Apple plans to introduce the first wave of AI features in the U.S. version of English this month via a software update, iPadOS 18.1. These enhancements will be compatible with iPads featuring the A17 Pro or M1 chips and later models. Additional features, such as image-generation tools, Genmoji, and ChatGPT-powered functionalities, are set to roll out over the coming months.
While Apple unveiled its much-anticipated AI-enhanced iPhone 16 lineup in September, the initial test phase of the AI features left some investors underwhelmed, raising questions about demand amid early sales data. Nonetheless, research firm Canalys indicated on Monday that the iPhone 16 is poised to boost Apple’s sales in the fourth quarter and provide momentum heading into the first half of 2025, following record high shipments in the third quarter.
The new iPad mini, priced starting at $499, is available for pre-order as of Tuesday and will begin shipping to customers and Apple Store locations next week.
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