Apple quietly released an updated version of the pilot-favorite iPad Mini this week. If you’re like us, you ran down the spec sheet looking for a killer feature that might lead you to upgrade but likely came up empty. It has been over three years since Apple last updated the iPad Mini, leading many to expect more significant changes.

The timing of the new release has taken many by surprise. Apple’s smallest iPad has a faster processor, more storage and support for Apple Intelligence.

We marked October 22 on the calendar and canceled our appointments. We were almost certain that Apple would hold its second fall keynote on that day and unveil new Macs and iPads. But then, just when we were expecting an invitation, Cupertino sent us instead a press release with details of the 7th-gen iPad mini… and nothing else.