iPad · Retina & Beyond · 2012
iPad mini
A 7.9" iPad you could hold in one hand and read like a book. It reversed Apple’s public stance on small tablets and became a runaway hit.
Apple’s first small tablet, the size Steve Jobs once said no one would want.
iPad Air (2013)
iPad mini: key facts
When was the iPad mini released?
The iPad mini arrived on November 2, 2012. Apple discontinued it in June 2015.
How much did the iPad mini cost?
The iPad mini launched at $329 in 2012, about $461 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple A5 at 1 GHz, 512 MB RAM, 16 GB storage, 7.9" IPS LCD, 1024×768 display.
Why does the iPad mini matter?
Apple’s first small tablet, the size Steve Jobs once said no one would want.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple A5 · 1 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 512 MB |
| Storage | 16 GB |
| Display | 7.9" IPS LCD, 1024×768 |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX543MP2 |
| Ports | Lightning |
| Weight | 308 g |
| Dimensions | 200×134.7×7.2 mm |
| Operating system | iOS 6 |
| Released | November 2, 2012 |
| Discontinued | June 2015 |
| Launch price | $329 |
How the iPad mini compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 32× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1 GHz, the clock is roughly 3.2× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 4,100 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $329 in 2012, about $461 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
Jobs had famously dismissed 7-inch tablets as "dead on arrival" two years earlier.
Related iPad models
Open the iPad mini in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11