With the iPad mini 7 (2024), Apple launched a vital and long-overdue improve to its in style compact pill. With the A17 Professional chip, Apple Intelligence and an improved design, the pill stays true to its function as an ultraportable system. What precisely makes the brand new iPad mini 7 superior to its predecessor, and for whom is it price shopping for? Our iPad mini 2024 assessment exhibits why it’s good for a lot of customers—however not for everybody.
Good
- Pocket-friendly type issue
- As much as 30 % quicker than its predecessor
- Apple Pencil Professional help
- Higher, low-reflection show
Unhealthy
- Small show limits productiveness
- Some apps & widgets aren’t optimized for a small show
- Solely eSIM help
- No Face ID
Apple iPad mini 7 (2024): All offers
iPad mini 7 show and design: Small, slim and chic
The smallest Apple pill packs true-blue iPad energy into a very transportable format, which is nice for infrequent work on the go. Nonetheless, Apple additionally made some uncommon errors with the comparatively tiny show.
The iPad mini 7 gives an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina show that delivers spectacular colours regardless of its compact dimensions. Due to the P3 colour area, True Tone, and an anti-reflective coating, it’s ideally suited for each indoor and out of doors use. Anybody in search of a pill that’s mild to hold round will likely be delighted: The iPad mini 2024 ideas the scales at just below 300 g and is without doubt one of the thinnest tablets in the marketplace with a thickness measuring 6.3 mm.
Apple additionally launched two new colours—Blue and Purple—and continues to depend on the traditional iPad colours Area Grey and Starlight. Notably noteworthy is the case produced from recycled aluminum, which not solely seems to be elegant but in addition helps Apple’s sustainability targets.
The one draw back? The compact display screen has some weaknesses in relation to chosen apps and widgets. Advanced content material, particularly, seems compressed or lower off, which tarnishes the visible impression considerably.
Apple Pencil Professional makes all of the distinction
One of the crucial necessary new options of the iPad mini 7 is Apple Pencil Professional compatibility. This gives extra capabilities comparable to strain sensitivity, a hover function, and higher integration with inventive apps. Due to the magnetic charging operate, the Apple Pencil Professional at all times stays docked to the facet of the pill, prepared for use when referred to as upon.
The Sensible Folio, which is out there in new colours comparable to Denim and Mild Violet, protects the iPad and can be utilized as a stand—ideally suited for watching films or video calls. Nonetheless, there is no such thing as a built-in keyboard (Apple Magic Keyboard), as is the case for the bigger iPad fashions.
Anybody who likes to attract or take notes will love the interplay between the iPad mini 2024 and Apple Pencil Professional. It is intuitive, exact, and a spotlight of the system. As for me, the Apple iPad mini is more and more reworking right into a digital notepad that theoretically suits in any jacket pocket so you possibly can at all times carry it with you.
Efficiency: A17 Professional gives loads of energy
The iPad mini 7 doesn’t include the most recent era of Apple’s in-house processor: the A17 Professional, which debuted with the iPhone Professional fashions in 2023, underneath the hood. Will or not it’s adequate?
On the coronary heart of the iPad mini 7 lies the brand new A17 Professional chip, which additionally powers the iPhone 15 Professional (assessment). With six CPU cores, a five-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine, it delivers a efficiency increase of as much as 30 % in comparison with its predecessor. Whether or not you need to edit 4K movies, play graphically demanding video games with ray tracing, or edit excessive decision photographs, the iPad mini 2024 can do all of it.
The A17 Professional additionally allows the usage of Apple Intelligence, a system that provides AI-supported capabilities comparable to computerized picture modifying, writing assistants, and voice processing. Sadly, this operate is at the moment unavailable in areas exterior of the US till 2025.
The iPad mini 7 is extremely highly effective regardless of its type issue. It actually overwhelms the common consumer with its efficiency, whereas energy customers profit from the future-proof A17 Professional chipset. Nonetheless, the efficiency doesn’t detract from the battery life. Based mostly on a daily work sample—browsing by way of Wi-Fi, replying emails, taking notes with the Apple Pencil, and watching movies, it may possibly simply final you thru the day.
| iPad mini 2024 A17 Professional | iPad Professional 2024 M4 | iPad Air 2024 M2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 CPU (Single / Multi) | 2,912 / 7,182 | 3,647 / 14,254 | 2,592 / 10,066 |
| Geekbench 6 GPU | 25,556 | 53,307 | 42,101 |
| 3D Mark Wild Life Excessive | 2,785 at 16.7 fps | 8,725 at 52.2 fps | 6,116 at 36.6 fps |
| 3D Mark Wild Life Excessive stress check | Finest loop: 3,628 Worst loop: 2,342 Stability: 64.5% |
Finest loop: 5,060 Worst loop: 4,326 Stability: 85.5 |
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In the case of connectivity, Apple additionally depends on extra energy within the iPad mini, however falls wanting its potential. The iPad mini 7 helps Wi-Fi 6E—a brand new customary, however not Wi-Fi 7, which gives even decrease latency and a far larger knowledge throughput (Wi-Fi 6E: as much as 9.6 Gbps vs Wi-Fi 7: as much as 46 Gbps), offered an acceptable router is used. There aren’t sufficient suitable routers round but, however it’s nonetheless a disgrace that Apple nonetheless depends on the considerably older customary right here.
The USB-C port has been upgraded and permits knowledge transfers of as much as 10 Gbps now. Though this isn’t the quickest potential connection, it’s twice as quick general in comparison with its predecessor.
For the very first time, the mobile model solely helps eSIM with the traditional SIM card slot is now not out there. This might be a minus level for some customers for whom the community supplier doesn’t but supply eSIMs. However, the quite a few efficiency modifications ought to supply actual added worth, particularly for traditional iPad mini customers.
Barely Improved Digicam System
A pill and its digital camera is a long-standing dance that has not excited anybody in years, and issues aren’t going to alter with the iPad mini 2024.
Apple has improved the cameras on the iPad mini 2024 barely. The 12 MP wide-angle digital camera behind delivers first rate outcomes, particularly with help for Sensible HDR 4 and the brand new True Tone flash. Nonetheless, one factor ought to stay clear: You should not count on outcomes just like the most recent iPhone 16 Professional (assessment). Nonetheless, the digital camera is right for taking images of paperwork or documenting work outcomes, for example.
The entrance digital camera maintains its decision rely at 12 MP and gives Middle Stage, which mechanically facilities customers within the image throughout video calls. Nonetheless, the entrance digital camera and its place stay the bone of rivalry for me on the iPad mini 7. It is now put in on the higher slender bezel of the iPad mini and alongside the lengthy facet. In the case of video calls, for which the entrance digital camera might be answerable for, the recording angle seems to be unusual.
Regardless of its enhancements, the digital camera high quality falls wanting expectations, particularly whenever you examine it to the brand new Professional fashions. If you wish to use the pill for skilled pictures or videography, it’s best to positively choose for a bigger iPad.
iPad mini 7 Key Specs
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Ought to You Purchase the iPad mini 7
The most important benefit of the iPad mini 2024 stays its compact type issue. It suits in nearly any bag and is the perfect on-the-go companion. Nonetheless, this benefit may grow to be a drawback: Anybody who needs to jot down longer texts or work with a number of apps concurrently will discover themselves reaching the boundaries of the small show rapidly.
One other level of criticism is the cut-off widgets and apps that aren’t optimally tailored to the small display screen. This isn’t a serious drawback, but it surely does tarnish the premium impression barely.
With an entry-level value of $499 for the 128 GB Wi-Fi model and $649 for the mobile model, the iPad mini 7 is not any cut price, both. Nonetheless, you get an actual iPad feeling for the value, even when it’s important to make compromises in comparison with the bigger fashions, comparable to digital camera high quality.
The place of the entrance digital camera is just a little bit extra annoying. Apple can solely transfer it to the broader facet with problem due to the Contact ID button (sadly, the iPad mini 7 does not help Face ID). Therefore, it stays on the slender higher bezel, which supplies you an odd viewing angle for video calls.
Regardless of my criticisms: The iPad mini 2024 is a worthy successor to its predecessor, providing spectacular efficiency, an improved design and thrilling new options like Apple Pencil Professional, and far quicker connectivity general, like Wi-Fi 6E. For me, it stays the perfect alternative for customers looking for a useful, highly effective pill for on the go. Now all that is left is Apple Intelligence—and you’ll lastly do much more with all that energy.
Anybody in search of a compact pill for media consumption, note-taking, and lightweight inventive work will likely be completely proud of the iPad mini 7. For critical productive work or skilled purposes, nevertheless, a bigger iPad could be the higher alternative.
The place to Purchase the iPad mini 7
The iPad mini 7 begins at $499 for the WLAN model and with 128 GB. The costliest mannequin with cellular community help and 512 GB reminiscence prices a hefty $949.
