Photo: Maurizio Pesce from Milan, Italia / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons · source
iPad mini 2
The small iPad gets its Retina screen and a 64-bit brain.
Overview
Where the first iPad mini compromised on screen quality, the mini 2 closed the gap. Its 7.9-inch panel now held the same 2048 x 1536 pixels as the full-size Air, which pushed the density to 326 pixels per inch and made text razor-sharp.
The A7 chip and M7 coprocessor were taken straight from the Air, so apps and games ran identically on the smaller device. Weight crept up by a few grams and the body thickened a touch to 7.5 mm to hold the larger battery, but the overall form remained essentially unchanged.
It kept the black-and-slate and white-and-silver spirit of the first mini with new Space Gray and Silver finishes, and Apple kept selling it at a reduced price for several years as the entry point to the lineup.
Why it mattered
Gave the mini line a Retina display and made it a serious option instead of a compromise.
At a glance
- Announced
- October 22, 2013
- Released
- November 12, 2013
- Discontinued
- March 21, 2017
- Launch price
- $399
- Chip
- Apple A7, 1.3 GHz dual-core (64-bit)
- Display
- 7.9"
- Storage
- 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Retina display at 326 ppi
- Same A7 chip and M7 coprocessor as iPad Air
- Compact 7.5 mm body, 331 g
- Stayed on sale as a budget model until 2017
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 7.9-inch
- Type
- Retina LED-backlit IPS multi-touch
- Resolution
- 2048 x 1536 (326 ppi)
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
Chip
- Chip
- Apple A7, 1.3 GHz dual-core 64-bit
- Coprocessor
- Apple M7 motion coprocessor
Memory
- RAM
- 1 GB
- Storage options
- 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB
Camera
- Rear camera
- 5 MP iSight, 1080p video
- Front camera
- 1.2 MP FaceTime HD
Battery
- Battery life
- Up to 10 hours of web, video or music
- Capacity
- About 24.3 Wh
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11a/b/g/n with MIMO, dual-band
- Cellular
- Optional 4G LTE model
- Connector
- Lightning
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 4.0
Accessories
- Apple Pencil
- Not supported
- Keyboard
- Bluetooth keyboards and third-party cases
Design
- Dimensions
- 200 x 134.7 x 7.5 mm
- Weight
- 331 g (Wi-Fi), 341 g (cellular)
Security
- Authentication
- Passcode lock
Software
- Launch OS
- iOS 7.0.3
- Latest supported OS
- iOS 12.5.x
How it compares
More in the iPad mini family
iPad mini
Apple's first small tablet, light enough to hold in one hand.
iPad mini 3
Same mini, now with Touch ID and a gold finish.
iPad mini 4
An Air 2 in miniature, with a laminated screen and 2 GB of RAM.
iPad mini (5th generation)
After four years, the mini comes back with Apple Pencil.
iPad mini (6th generation)
A complete redesign: bigger screen, USB-C and no home button.
iPad mini (A17 Pro)
The pocketable iPad gets an iPhone-class A17 Pro and Apple Intelligence.