iPad mini 4
Our verdict
Repurpose it.
Its update days are over. Its useful days aren’t.
I
Give it a job
A recipe stand, a HomeKit dashboard, a digital photo frame.
II
Keep it off the open web
Without security updates, treat it as a single-purpose appliance rather than a daily browser.
III
Or let it go
Apple no longer services this model, but Apple Stores still take it for free recycling. Working units are worth more sold than scrapped.
ObsoleteTops out at iPadOS 15.8.4.
Where to sell it
The record
Introduced
2015
Model identifier
iPad5,1, iPad5,2
Variants
Wi-Fi · cellular
Chip
Apple A8
Architecture
64-bit ARM
Latest official release
iPadOS 15.8.4
With OpenCore Patcher
Not applicable
Security updates
Ended — iPadOS 15 received its final security update in 2025 (last release 15.8.4).
Apple hardware status
Obsolete — no longer serviced
Data confidence
high
Common questions
What is the newest iPadOS for the iPad mini 4?
The iPad mini 4 officially tops out at iPadOS 15.8.4.
Is the iPad mini 4 still getting security updates?
No. Ended — iPadOS 15 received its final security update in 2025 (last release 15.8.4).
Is the iPad mini 4 vintage or obsolete?
Apple classifies it as obsolete: no more parts, no more service. Apple Stores will still recycle it for free.
The fine print
a
apple_device_models_2013_present.csv says obsolete · task1_models.csv says vintage. We use: obsolete.
Same shelf