# iPad mini 4, model A1538

> model of iPad in the iPad mini 4 series

**Wikidata**: [Q66816976](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q66816976)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ipad-mini-4-model-a1538

## Summary
iPad mini 4, model A1538 is a specific hardware configuration of the iPad mini 4 tablet line that Apple introduced on 9 September 2015. It carries Apple’s internal model number “A1538” and is certified under that same identifier by the FCC, Bluetooth SIG, and Canadian radio-equipment regulators.

## Key Facts
- **Launch date**: 9 September 2015 (Wikidata Q206855)
- **Model identifier**: A1538 (Apple support doc HT201471, 29 Aug 2019)
- **Product class**: iPad mini 4 tablet PC
- **Bluetooth declaration ID**: D023029 (Bluetooth Launch Studio, 17 Oct 2019)
- **Canadian REL certification**: 579C-A1538
- **Aliases**: A1538, hardware version identification number A1538
- **Subclass of**: iPad mini 4 product family

## FAQs
### Q: What does “A1538” mean on an iPad mini 4?
A: A1538 is Apple’s internal model number for that specific iPad mini 4 hardware variant; it appears on the back cover and is used for regulatory filings and parts ordering.

### Q: Is the A1538 the only version of iPad mini 4?
A: No—Apple also released a cellular-capable variant, model A1550; A1538 denotes the Wi-Fi-only configuration.

### Q: Where can I find the A1538 number on my device?
A: Flip the iPad over; the tiny text below “iPad” lists the model as “A1538” on compatible units.

## Why It Matters
The A1538 hardware revision anchors the iPad mini 4 generation in Apple’s timeline: it was the last 7.9-inch iPad before the 2019 mini 5, and the first mini to adopt the fully-laminated Retina display and 2 GB RAM. Because Apple kept the mini 4 in retail channels for four years, A1538 units became a low-cost entry point into iPadOS and remain common in schools, retail POS systems, and medical carts. Regulators, repair shops, and trade-in programs still route parts, firmware, and compliance paperwork through the A1538 designation, making it a living reference standard for compact tablets in Apple’s ecosystem.

## Notable For
- First iPad mini to ship with a fully-laminated Retina display (2048 × 1536)
- Last 7.9-inch iPad released before the line went on hiatus in 2016-2018
- One of the longest-sold iPad models, available new from 2015 through 2019
- A1538 is the Wi-Fi-only SKU; cellular models carry A1550 instead

## Body
### Hardware Identity
Apple assigns every major hardware revision a unique model number; A1538 is that identifier for the Wi-Fi-only iPad mini 4. Regulatory bodies echo the same string: FCC filings list “iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi A1538,” while Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada registers it as “579C-A1538.”

### Certification Trail
- Bluetooth SIG: Declaration ID D023029, certified 17 Oct 2019
- Hardware version: A1538 (mirrors the marketing model)
- Wikidata cross-reference: Q206855, retrieved 9 Sep 2015

## References

1. [Source](https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201471)
2. [Source](https://launchstudio.bluetooth.com/ListingDetails/1299)