The iPad mini is perhaps the most polarizing product in Apple’s portfolio. There’s a section of enthusiasts who would choose this over other devices in its class, but there’s also another group that can’t quite grasp what exactly it can offer in terms of meaningful utility.
read? check. Is it good for taking notes? It’s probably the best little diary in the world. What about the game? It has the potential to far outperform the best titles out there. You can get all that excellence for at least $500.
In my case, the entry-level iPad mini this year cost me $771 after tax. This is enough money to buy a full-fledged laptop or a large tablet with some added accessories. To get the most out of a tablet, look no further than the excellent OnePlus Pad 2.
Now, here’s the kicker. In almost every situation where the 7th generation iPad mini would excel, an Android device can perform better. The best thing about the iPad mini is how comfortable and palm-friendly it is, but it can also spring back as soon as you start pushing it.
The iPad mini’s hardware is (mostly) great
Let’s start with the build. Although it’s the same as its predecessor, the beauty of the iPad mini is also its biggest draw. Few other devices have the same footprint.
E-book readers? Sure, there are plenty, including the new Kindle Colorsoft. The Boox Color Go also runs Android, but its paper-dull color screen is a test of patience even by traditional 60Hz screen standards. This time Apple also fixed the jelly scroll issue, which made me very relieved.
Now I really like the feel and weight profile of the tablet in my hand. Weighing in at 293 grams, it’s not feather-light by any means, but thanks to its larger size and weight distribution, it actually feels lighter and easier on your hands than the iPhone 16 Pro.
I love how the tablet fits neatly into the side pocket of my cargo jeans, even with the Apple Pencil Pro attached to the side. As someone who can’t be bothered to carry my bag to the local coffee shop to work on my laptop, I love this aspect of the iPad mini.
It’s nice to read while leaning forward on a comfy bean bag. As my colleague Prakhar Khanna says, the iPad mini is great fun for reading or watching videos on a flight because you don’t have to fiddle with trays or struggle to find space. is.
I recently tried editing a video on my iPad Pro (13-inch) while sitting on a plane, and it was woefully clunky. When it comes to video editing, we highly recommend sticking to the basics. With a good timeline, things can get overwhelmingly crowded, even for short clips.
Another scenario where the pocket-sized iPad mini excels is gaming. A17 Pro silicon is enough to handle any mobile gaming. But my hands don’t strain to hold the tablet (mini-tablet, oh well!) while I play a few rounds. PUBG Battle Royale or sharpen Katana Zero It causes a surge of joy.
Interestingly, it gets hot quickly, even compared to the iPhone 16 Pro. My guess is that Apple doesn’t have the same kind of thermal hardware inside its tablets as its flagship phones. Even if it has more breathing space inside and a surrounding metal surface area for heat dissipation.
Of course, small batteries quickly lose steam. The first time I tried using brushes on my iPad mini, it was a huge failure. I installed Chrome and the app unexpectedly crashed a dozen times within 30 minutes. By Apple’s standards and those of other $500 machines, this is a bit much.
Once again, I would like to highlight the issue of screen refresh rate. 60 Hz is no longer sufficient. If you’ve ever experienced a 90Hz or 120Hz screen on either device, you’ll know the difference is noticeable from the get-go. I couldn’t ignore this visual difference between the iPhone 16 Pro and iPad Pro. Both feature ProMotion 120Hz screens.
For some reason, animations felt slower and app transitions felt less fluid on the iPad mini than on the MacBook Air, which also has a 60Hz panel. This also happened to me while running a stable build of iPadOS 18. Despite being in developer beta, the iPad Pro feels much more reliable.
finding purpose far from home
I’ve been using the iPad mini for almost a week now, and I’ve been having trouble finding a purpose for it. Given its size, you’d say, “Don’t think about it too much.” But if you spent more than half a grand on a device, you can’t afford to think that way. Unless, of course, you intentionally bought it as a “spare”.
For me, the iPad mini worked pretty strangely, and not exactly in a value-oriented way. It’s a great companion device and can be propped up against a tabletop salt shaker or even a cheap $20 metal stand for your work desk.
You should be juggling Slack and Teams for workplace communication at the same time, while being mindful of task management apps like Trello and Teams. Of course, Gmail is a permanent fixture in your workflow, as is WhatsApp for mobile communications.
The 13.3-inch MacBook Air quickly runs out of space for app windows. Additionally, putting it into Stage Manager causes the machine to malfunction. When you put the iPad mini on its side, all chat apps run in split-screen mode, as do your news feed and social media tracker.
Enabling Universal Controls lets you easily control your iPad mini’s UI using your MacBook Air’s keyboard and touchpad. Screen mirroring allows us to overcome even the most troubling limitations of the iPad’s mobile ecosystem.
We’ll start with the most humble example: Google Docs. The mobile version of Docs has excruciating limitations. My half-day work writing sessions require me to have multiple tabs open and the reference screen visible, so I use my iPad mini as a dedicated external screen for Google Docs.
This will give you all the editing features of Google Docs right on your iPad mini screen. It’s definitely a little cramped, but not particularly cramped. I love a distraction-free experience, and that’s important to get any real utility out of it.
However, these are not the advantages of iPad mini. These are the benefits of “Apple”. Or, more accurately, the perks of the Apple ecosystem. These perks are expensive, mind you. In my case, it cost me about $3,000 for seamless interoperability, and that’s not counting Apple Watch and AirPods.
just give me a reason
I “tasted” the iPad mini with a group of students, mobile gamers, and businesspeople. The clean design and minimal weight are universally loved by everyone. Still, no one could confidently single out a use case scenario in which a tablet would be essential for them.
“I like to limit my social media to my phone.” “For gaming, I definitely need a big screen. Otherwise, I’ll simply keep using my phone.” “Watching videos. It’s good, but I don’t think any screen is as attractive as the OLED panel on my phone.” “Oh, it’s not as smooth as my iPhone.”
These are all legitimate concerns rooted in practicality. So far, the iPad mini stands out to me primarily because of its unique form factor. But it continues to face an identity crisis, especially considering the price Apple has offered.
It’s not a bad device, but it’s just confusing in that it has limitations. We will share detailed results soon after more comprehensive testing. I hope to encounter more surprises (of the good kind, of course) and less functional handicaps. I’ll be publishing my full review soon, so stay tuned.
