Two months of utilization later, the iPad mini 7 remains to be an awesome compact media and gaming pill, although there are definitely some areas for enchancment.
I owned the very first Retina iPad mini means again in 2014, nevertheless it was solely ever a Netflix machine for me. With the discharge of the brand new seventh-generation mannequin that is all modified, and it would simply be the defacto iPad from right here on out.
The brand new 2024 iPad mini is the smallest pill in a lineup dominated by superfast, super-big tablets. However after spending just a few weeks with the brand new A17 Professional-powered, I feel I lastly get why you should purchase one.
The factor with new {hardware} is that you really want to spend a protracted period of time with it to actually perceive what it is all about. It provides you time to transcend the preliminary pleasure, to dive in and get a really feel for what it has to supply.
By no means has that been extra true than the most recent iPad mini. A pill that I used to be excited to get my fingers on not as a result of I believed it might be nice, however as a result of it is a decade since I final used one.
Now, spending time with Apple’s diminutive iPad I am right here to say it is the solely pill I intend to purchase from right here on out.
However two months on from its launch, that is prone to be a controversial opinion in a world the place the iPad Professional is the top of Apple’s makes an attempt to show the pill into the laptop computer of tomorrow. I might wager that the iPad mini actually comes into its personal if you ignore the noise and simply settle for it for what it truly is — a display that is greater than an iPhone with out making an attempt to do an excessive amount of.
Positive, if you would like an iPad with an unbelievable M4 chip inside so you possibly can crunch your means via complicated videography workflows on a surprising mini-LED show, the iPad mini is not for you. However for those who take a look at your iPhone 16 Professional Max and need it was just a bit bit greater for a greater gaming expertise or shopping the online, it is the one pill you want.
Let me clarify how the iPad mini that was as soon as a Netflix machine changed into the one pill I want and considered one of my most-used Apple gadgets.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: The Goldilocks gaming machine
You would be forgiven for forgetting the iPad mini existed and, till just lately, it appeared that Apple had as effectively. The present Seventh-gen iPad mini launched two months in the past on October 23, 2024, and got here greater than three years after its predecessor debuted.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: The iPad mini is sort of a Valve Steam Deck that runs iPadOS and all your apps.
Different new iPads arrived throughout these three years, and that left the iPad mini working an outdated chip within the form of the A15 Bionic. This was at a time when the remainder of the lineup was leaping to M-series silicon just like that present in Macs.
However I might wager that the iPad mini has by no means been about uncooked horsepower, not in the way in which that the iPad Professional and to some extent the iPad Air is. The clue is within the title, and the iPad mini’s actual superpower is its measurement.
Whereas it is true that iPhones at the moment are greater than ever, the final two generations of iPad mini have sported 8.3-inch Liquid Retina shows. The show within the iPad mini remains to be considerably bigger than that of the 6.9-inch iPhone 16 Professional Max.
In my eyes, and for lots of use instances, that is simply concerning the excellent measurement. Large iPhones are cool and all, however no-one actually desires to look at a TV present or play a recreation on one for an extended size of time.
Migrate to an iPad mini, and it is a complete new ball recreation.
My weeks spent with the seventh-gen iPad mini have been spent taking part in Balatro resulted in a revelation. This pill is the place Apple ought to focus its Apple Arcade advertising.
Overlook the velocity of the M4 iPad Professional and its skill to throw polygons and pixels round as in the event that they’re nothing. Ignore how cool it’s that you may play a console-quality Resident Evil recreation on a telephone that matches into your pocket.
As an alternative, choose up a brand new iPad mini, launch any recreation from Apple Arcade, and relax. You are in for a deal with due to a big, colourful show and greater than sufficient processing energy to fill it with enjoyable.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: The naysayer’s information
None of that is to say the iPad mini is not with out its issues, particularly for those who’re somebody who dives into the specs. In case you’re searching for faults, you may undoubtedly discover them right here.
For starters, that A17 Professional is a lot quick, to make certain, and it is nonetheless the chip that powered Apple’s flagship iPhone till very just lately. However in a world of M-series chips breaking benchmark information left and proper, it does really feel like a missed alternative for Apple. It may very well be quicker, is all I am saying.
Then there’s the show. I stand by my declare that at 8.3 inches it is nearly excellent for lounging on the couch, studying web sites, watching YouTube, and sure, taking part in video games.
However the bizarre 3:2 facet ratio could be a little unusual relying on what you are utilizing it for.
Then there’s the elephant within the room that is been hanging round because the Sixth-gen iPad mini went on sale just a few years in the past. The jelly scrolling state of affairs.
For the uninitiated, jelly scrolling is a phenomenon that causes some folks to see one facet of the iPad mini’s show seem to scroll at a distinct fee to the opposite. When it occurs and for those who can see it, it may be infuriating to look at.
Fortunately for me, I can not see it or I merely do not use the iPad mini in a means that causes it to leap out and slap me within the face. Others appear to really feel in a different way.
The important thing factor right here is that this seventh-gen iteration hasn’t basically modified the show in a means that can eradicate the difficulty. In case you noticed it earlier than, you may see it right here, too.
The display may very well be brighter, too. Then there are different limitations caused by the IPS show expertise, together with the sluggish 60Hz most refresh fee.
Apple might technically repair all of those points by placing one thing like an M2 chip right into a future iPad mini. It might additionally change to OLED expertise for its show.
However these issues would certainly enhance the value and at its present $499 beginning value, I might posit that it is already a bit on the pricey facet.
Finally, it is simple to search out fault with any product. The actual enjoyable is available in discovering the place it excels and worms its means into your life in methods you would possibly by no means have anticipated it to.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: How an iPad turned my go-to gadget
It ought to be clear by now that I am fairly taken with this little pill. However as you may think, it is not the one gadget I’ve at hand.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: Couple an iPad mini with a recreation streaming service and it is a complete new world.
I additionally personal a 2018 iPad Professional. An 11-inch pill that someway manages to be too massive to make use of within the methods I need to, however not large enough to essentially get an excessive amount of helpful work performed on.
It someway manages to be the right measurement to be good at nothing particularly, past slipping right into a bag and taking on little or no area.
That is all to say that my life has in recent times revolved round no matter Professional Max iPhone is out there after which utilizing a 16-inch MacBook Professional when the iPhone’s show wasn’t large enough. Then Apple despatched me an iPad mini loaner (with an Apple Pencil Professional) and now I do not need to give it again.
I discover myself utilizing the iPad mini in methods I’ve by no means used an iPad earlier than, and I attain for it a lot extra.
It is the gadget I scroll via my socials on once I’m half being attentive to no matter’s on TV. It is the gadget that I watch YouTube on earlier than going to sleep, too.
However above all, it is rekindled my love of gaming by providing a pick-up-and-play expertise that is onerous to beat. Since it is so small, it will probably go nearly anyplace as effectively.
I discussed Balatro earlier and I do suppose that the iPad mini may be the right machine for enjoying that exact recreation on. However the actual enjoyable comes once I pair this factor with a controller just like the GameSir G8 Plus — I have been utilizing the Thanos Marvel version, however there are extra “regular” colorways out there for those who choose.
Set up something from Apple Arcade or the App Retailer and the enjoyable begins. However distant play from a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox and that is the place issues actually get attention-grabbing.
Nvidia’s GeForce Now PC recreation streaming expertise is second to none on this factor. Little question thanks in no small half to the WiFi 6E (802.11ax) expertise the most recent iPad mini gives.
Indisputably, one of many iPad mini’s key options is its measurement. Mockingly it is one which certainly places lots of people off shopping for it, too.
The iPad mini is sufficiently small that I can take it nearly anyplace and all over the place with me, and having the mobile model helps right here. That in flip implies that I exploit it in conditions the place I simply would not use my iPad Professional, primarily as a result of I simply would not have it with me as a lot.
It is a related story at dwelling, too, because the iPad mini feels a lot much less intrusive than its greater brethren. It does so whereas nonetheless offering an expertise that iPhones cannot match, whether or not that is watching content material, taking part in video games, or simply studying the online.
In fact, Apple might put the iPad mini to mattress for as soon as and for all if it had been to launch a foldable iPhone just like the Galaxy Pixel 9 Professional Fold or Samsung Z Fold 6. However that is one other dialogue for an additional time.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: The conclusion
In case it hasn’t develop into clear but, I am fairly the fan of the little iPad mini regardless of its lackluster show and yesterday’s chip. It is Apple at its greatest, a product that matches into a niche and does a job higher than the rest that I’ve in my technological arsenal.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: The purple iPad mini appears to be like extra silver than purple.
It is not excellent and there are undoubtedly areas the place I hope Apple will enhance when it comes time to improve this iteration. However because it stands, it is greater than succesful and fills a gap I did not actually know that I had.
I do want it was cheaper, and it’ll at all times be onerous to promote folks a small-screen pill for $500 once they can get an even bigger one for much less. The truth that the iPad mini has a greater chip inside and extra storage as normal will likely be ignored — folks see display measurement and assume that equates to cost.
However I will spherical issues out with a easy reality. If you end up taking a look at your iPhone and wishing it was only a bit greater however discover even the 11-inch iPad Air or iPad Professional too unwieldy, the iPad mini is for you.
The very fact it suits into a recreation controller and successfully turns itself right into a Valve Steam Deck and Nintendo Change competitor actually should not be missed. Frankly, that is going to be my principal use case for this factor.
Nevertheless it’s additionally the right kind issue for sofa internet browsing or simply checking what else that actor was in when Siri simply will not do the job.
And sure, the iPad mini does assist Apple Intelligence. For higher and for worse.
iPad mini 7 professionals
- The 8.3-inch show is the Goldilocks measurement — not too massive, not too small.
- The minimalist kind issue implies that the iPad appears to be like fashionable, nearly futuristic.
- The A17 Professional chip helps Apple Intelligence and is a lot quick sufficient for many issues.
- Battery life is surprisingly good contemplating the comparatively small battery inside this factor in comparison with different tablets.
- You possibly can take this factor anyplace, not like even the 11-inch iPads in Apple’s lineup.
iPad mini 7 cons
- Silicon watchers would little doubt name for an M-series chip.
- Utilizing Contact ID appears like a blast from the previous and actually ought to be upgraded to Face ID.
- The colours are barely there — my purple iPad mini appears to be like like a silver one, and the opposite colours aren’t a lot better.
- The show appears to be like good, nevertheless it’s the primary one I’ve ever seen the slower 60Hz refresh fee on. 120Hz ProMotion subsequent time, please.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: 4 out of 5
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: The place to purchase
The Apple iPad mini 7 is now on sale with reductions popping up right here and there. You may discover all of the lowest costs in our iPad mini Worth Information so be sure you verify there earlier than inserting an order anyplace else.
