The cellular unit iFixit pulled apart also offers Gigabit-class LTE and eSIM technology. The slate also packs another Apple chip that allows for Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and Wi-Fi 802.11ac. Alongside that new A12 processor, iFixit found flash memory made by Toshiba, an NFC controller made by NXP, and a Broadcom touchscreen controller. The iPad mini’s logic board is where the most exciting chips are found. Positioned around that battery, you’ll find upgraded cameras - the same 7-megapixel front-facing camera found in the 10.5-inch iPad Pro - and new ambient light sensors that enable True Tone technology.

However, it now has a new connector, which means old iPad mini batteries won’t fit this model should you ever need a replacement. That battery is rated for 19.32 Wh, which matches the last iPad mini’s battery. The first thing you’ll notice once the display is out of the way is the iPad mini’s massive battery, which takes up most of the space inside. Like other iPads, its display is glued down and requires a lot of effort to remove in one piece. IFixit notes the only way to tell this is a new iPad mini on the outside is the new model number - A2133 - and the removal of regulatory markings on its back, which are now found in iOS. But on the inside, it is vastly improved compared to the fourth-generation model introduced in 2015. The device doesn’t sport the all-new design some fans will have been hoping for. In addition to the latest A12 Bionic processor, it packs an improved display, better cameras, and Apple Pencil support. The new iPad mini is Apple’s most impressive compact tablet to date. But there are plenty of new chips and components under the hood.

Unsurprisingly, it’s not a whole lot different to its predecessor. One unlucky unit ended up with iFixit, which has already torn it apart to show us what’s inside. The fifth-generation iPad mini has started making its way into the hands of early adopters.

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