Read our full review of the iPad Mini.
Target audience:
Tablets are extremely versatile devices, but everyone has their favorite uses. If you use your iPad to read like I do, then the iPad Mini is your choice. Other iPad models start at 10.9 inches, which is plenty of screen size if you’re just flipping through e-books. In my experience, holding the 10.9-inch iPad feels more like holding a magazine than a book, so the 8.3-inch iPad Mini is a more comfortable handle for readers. Additionally, it has an anti-reflective coating to prevent glare.
But the iPad Mini isn’t just a glorified e-reader; it’s also a versatile tablet. Like any iPad, you can read books on your Apple Kindle, but you can also stream your favorite shows. This is a level of flexibility that standard e-readers can’t match.
So when should you avoid the iPad Mini? If you’re looking for a tablet that doubles as a laptop, this isn’t it. 8 inches might be plenty of room for reading and viewing, but it’ll feel cramped if you want to go back and forth between email and Slack. Additionally, you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard in a pinch, although it’s not compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard.
Why we chose this:
The iPad Mini exists in a strange area of the iPad lineup. It has an A15 chip and a 5-core GPU, making it more advanced than the iPad 10th generation in some ways. But on the other hand, it lacks important features such as a landscape camera, headphone jack, and Magic Keyboard compatibility. When you calculate all of this, it’s clear that the iPad Mini is a great tablet, but other iPads in Apple’s lineup can also be great tablets. and laptop.
I love my iPad Mini more than anything for reading. I used to read on my iPad 9th generation, which worked fine, but was too big. When you’re reading in bed, a standard-sized iPad can put strain on your wrist. So when I switched to using an iPad Mini, I was thrilled with how light it was. It weighs just over half a pound. At 8.3 inches, it’s about 1.5 inches larger than the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but after using both, the feel is negligible. Plus, unlike the iPad 10th generation, it has an anti-reflective coating, making it easier to read in any lighting. The iPad Mini is great for reading, but it doesn’t have a matte screen like other e-readers, which can make your eyes strain more easily at night. If you want to treat your iPad Mini like a Kindle, these paper-like screen protectors add just the right amount of friction to the screen to make it feel like you’re reading or writing on paper.
iPad Mini’s small size makes it ideal for travel. It takes up less space and weight in your bag than other iPads on this list. Despite being smaller than the iPad 10th generation, it costs more. So what are you paying for? Slightly more advanced technology, more portability, and a better reading experience.
Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder reviewed the iPad Mini and gave it top marks: “If you value screen real estate over portability, buy something else. If not, the iPad mini is the best tablet available.”
