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The iPad Mini has gotten a refresh, and if you've never considered a smaller-screen tablet before, this one is worth a look.
At first glance it looks very similar to the previous generation (and physically it is).
But once you dig under the hood and consider how those upgrades will expand the ways you can use iPad Mini, this could become your new favourite gadget to carry with you everywhere!
Pros
- Powerful chip
- Apple Pencil Pro support
- Apple Intelligence capable
Cons
- Thick bezels
- 60 hz display
- 1st & 2nd Gen Apple Pencil not supported
Why Choose an iPad Mini
I want to address this first because iPad Mini is a bit of an odd form factor to understand if you've never used one before.
We are trained to want BIGGER screens in all our devices, so why settle for an iPad with a much smaller screen?
This size is niche, but for the right tasks I absolutely love it. Whenever I'm in a situation where I want to reference notes (like a work presentation) iPad Mini is my GO-TO. It looks more professional than glancing at your phone, you can easily edit on the go, and it can fit inside of my suit jacket pockets.
Beyond that, this is a great tablet to cozy up with for leisure and entertainment. It's a perfect size as a full-colour e-Reader (light enough to hold in one hand). It doesn't take up too much space in a bag or on a desk so you can quickly set it up to stream your favorite show while on a work break or travelling.
And don't even get me started on gaming (actually please do). If you slide the iPad Mini into a quality gaming controller, this thing becomes the ultimate device for streaming digital games from Xbox or PlayStation. And thanks to this new A17 Pro Chip you'll be able to play console quality titles right from the device.
It can be a bit of a mental hurdle, especially when you compare the price of the Mini to an iPad Air, to settle for a smaller screen tablet. But give some thought to the ways you expect to use your tablet and consider that against the convenience and portability of an iPad Mini
What's new with iPad Mini
There's no radical changes between the latest iPad Mini and the previous one. However those subtle changes add new possibilities to the way you'll use iPad Mini. Here's the standard specs you'll want to know:
- 8.3 inch display
- A17 Pro chip
- Works with Apple Intelligence
- USB-C charging
- One rear-facing 12 MP wide angle camera
- One front-facing 12 MP Ultrawide camera
- 4K video recording
- Wi-Fi 6E
- LTE (5G) model available
- 4 colour choices
- 128, 256, & 512 GB storage options
- Up to 10 hours battery life
So what's actually new on iPad Mini? These are the big things.
Apple Pencil Pro and iPad Mini
On the latest version of iPad Mini, the new Apple Pencil Pro is supported. This magnetically connects to the side of the tablet (where it also wirelessly charges). Apple Pencil Pro was introduced in the spring of 2024 alongside the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models and gives you expanded and more nuanced controls over the stylus through taps and squeezes and rolling the barrel of the Apple Pencil Pro.
Because the design of the magnetic connection is different for Apple Pencil Pro, this means the regular Apple Pencil will NOT work with iPad Mini. This is a bummer if you already have one and intended to use it with you new iPad Mini. However, if you've been using the USB C version of Apple Pencil, that one does work with with iPad Mini (obviously not with tap and squeeze functions though because those are specific to the Apple Pencil Pro, not the tablet you're using it with).
Pairing Apple Pencil Pro with iPad Mini makes this a great digital notepad to keep near your desk when you need to jot down important info. There's a feature called Smart Script in iPad OS 18 that cleans up your handwriting as you go - so your writing still is your unique style, but makes it a little more legible.
A17 Pro Chip
Talking about chips and processors can make people's eyes glaze over BUT when you learn what they allow you to do, it gets way more interesting. So we'll focus on how this chip expands what you can do with iPad Mini.
iPad Mini comes with the A17 Pro Chip. This is the same processor that is in the iPhone 15 Pro phones, so if you happen to have that model of phone, you'll know that all the apps and games that work with your 15 Pro will work great on iPad Mini.
I think the main reason to include the A17 Pro chip (and refresh the iPad Mini line at this point) is so users can access Apple Intelligence. While Apple Intelligence wasn't live at launch, this iPad will be able to use all the powerful tools of Apple Intelligence.
This could be something you'll want to use to spellcheck an important work email or change the tone of voice. Or maybe you'll just go deep into GenMoji (creating custom emojis for any scenario facing you).
The biggest potential with Apple Intelligence is through Siri and the digital assistant's ability to provide custom and contextual responses based on you, what you're doing, where you are, and being able to pull information from a variety of sources to give you the most relevant answers.
Other iPad Mini enhancements
The new iPad Mini improves your wireless connection with Wi-Fi 6E support (you can connect to two Wi-Fi sources at once like your Apple TV device for screen mirroring and your home Wi-Fi for browsing). It offers faster data transfer through the USB C Port, and the base storage option has doubled, now starting at 128 GB allowing you to keep more stuff on your device rather than in the cloud.
There are a total of four colours, two of which are new shades (even though Blue and Purple colour options have existed with other iPad models, the two for iPad Mini are unique to this device). And a new smart folio case has been created with iPad Mini in a variety of shades that will go great to match or complement your iPad Mini.
Is the iPad Mini good for gaming?
Turning the iPad Mini into my go-to device for gaming on the go has been my mission since I first got my hands on it.
While I have a few small gripes, the experience of gaming on iPad Mini is excellent.
If you've never used an iPad or iPhone for gaming, the experience continues to get better and better as time goes on. But a big turning point came for Apple alongside the iPhone 15 Pro when suddenly games that were previously only available on current gen consoles or high end gaming PCs like Death Stranding and Resident Evil Village could suddenly be played right on your phone.
As developers have caught up to the capabilities introduced with the iPhone 15's A17 chip the number of titles has grown (not massively, but methodically).
Since iPad mini has that same chip now, those premium titles (and whatever else is to come) will now be playable on this device that has a much larger screen that your iPhone.
That display, while large at 8.3 inches doesn't have Pro Motion (Apple's high end feature to increase refresh rate). So you can expect a 60Hz refresh rate for games.
I try not to be a refresh rate snob, because honestly once you've started a game you don't really notice a big difference unless the game is really, really bad, but I was hoping for a 120 hz display.
Having said that, most often I'm playing titles through PlayStation Remote Play which caps framerate at 60 fps anyway. But since some titles being developed for iOS like Genshin Impact are available at 120 FPS, it would've been cool to be able to experience that high framerate with an improved refresh rate on the iPad Mini display.
My gaming experience with iPad Mini is mostly through PlayStation Remote Play, streaming some Xbox titles, and bouncing around between Apple Arcade titles and a few of the triple A titles available on Apple devices like Assassin's Creed Mirage.
While you can certainly enjoy many of these games with the iPad Mini's touch controls, adding a mobile gaming controller into the equation really makes the iPad Mini feel like an exceptional device for gaming on the go. While there are a lot of options for mobile gaming controllers, the one I've liked most with iPad mini is the Razer Kishi Ultra, a lot of which has to do with the software it uses to launch and organize your games and customize your button controls.
Is iPad Mini worth it?
I absolutely love my iPad Mini because I have very specific situations for work and leisure that having a smaller tablet makes a lot of sense.
When you look at the price of the iPad Mini against the price of the 2024 iPad Air (we'll leave the lower cost base 10th gen iPad out of the equation because the functionality and power are less comparable) it can be tough to rationalize the purchase. You're getting nearly 3 inches less screen real estate, losing out on the ability to have a full size keyboard case, and seeing a nearly negligible price difference between the two devices.
But it all comes down to the use scenario. If you already use and love a large screen tablet, then you may not be happy to decrease the size of your screen.
However if you already have a laptop for your "big screen work" and want a device that's more focused on fun tasks and portability then iPad Mini is such a great option. The fun of sketching and doing artwork (or even just doodles if you're not artistically inclined) on the small screen tablet is so nice.
The convenience and comfort of reading an e-book with a device that weighs 2/3 of a pound and rests easily in one hand is wonderful.
Pulling the device out of your bag while you're eating a sandwich during your lunch break and not worrying about battery life as you have that little screen propped up in its folio cover helps you sneak in more "me time" for your day.
Geeking Out Shop
iPad Mini
Mini Tablet
The latest iPad Mini supports Apple Intelligence, the new Apple Pencil Pro, and can be used with the new folio cover. It's an excellent device for everyday carry whether you're using it for gaming, streaming movies and shows, or note taking and work.
If you look at iPad Mini and your first instinct is a hard "no" then this thing surely isn't right for you. However, if you look at this device with just a little bit of curiosity and think "maybe" then you could be opening yourself up to a very different tablet experience, one more catered to your entertainment and personal enjoyment.
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