The iPad mini 7 was introduced as an update to the excellent iPad mini 6. Apple’s latest tablet isn’t revolutionary, but it’s a great device for those who want the iPad experience in a smaller form factor.
What features does the iPad mini 7 have? First, the powerful A17 Pro chip delivers faster performance than the previous generation, making it easy to edit high-resolution photos and play graphics-demanding games. You can also play. It initially comes with 128 GB of storage, which is a significant improvement over the previous measly 64 GB. This tablet features great battery life and the same portable design, all at the same starting price of $499.
Indeed, the iPad mini 7 is the best yet and easily ranks on our list of the best iPads and best tablets. However, there are also some drawbacks. Below, we’ll discuss three reasons to buy an iPad mini 7 and two reasons not to buy an iPad mini 7.
iPad mini 7: Why buy?
same great design
The new iPad mini 7 maintains the same portable design as its predecessor. In fact, when you put them side by side, it’s hard to tell one from the other. This is actually a good thing since this design is almost perfect.
As before, the iPad mini 7 measures 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 inches and weighs 0.6 pounds. It’s small and light, so you can hold it comfortably while immersing yourself in a video or novel. It also means you hardly feel it in your backpack when you’re out and about. As always, this thin and light tablet has a solid construction despite its small footprint.
Another design aspect that the iPad mini brings over from its predecessor is its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display. The screen is bright, colorful, and sharp with a 2,266 x 1,488 resolution. Everything looks great on this small display. The only thing it isn’t is the relatively thick bezel.
A17 professional performance
The iPad mini 7’s biggest upgrade is the A17 Pro chip underneath its sleek chassis. Similar to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, this processor helps deliver superior performance to Apple’s new tablets. While it’s certainly not on par with the Apple M2 and Apple M4 chips that power the latest iPad Air and iPad Pro, respectively, the A17 Pro’s performance doesn’t disappoint, especially for a tablet this small.
Even with a dozen Chrome tabs and YouTube running, the iPad mini 7 never slowed down during our testing. What’s also worth noting is that the tablet handles the graphics-intensive game Resident Evil 4 with no problem. The iPad mini 7 is too small to work efficiently, but it’s fine for browsing the web and playing games on the go.
On a related note, storage on the iPad mini starts at 128GB. This is important considering the previous model only had 64GB. The 128GB of storage is a blessing considering the large file sizes of certain apps and games.
long battery life
The iPad mini 7 may be small, but it has long battery life.
In lab testing with the display set to 150 nits and continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi, the iPad mini lasted 10 hours and 36 minutes. That’s about 20 minutes less than the iPad mini 6, but still more than a full workday’s worth of battery life.
Your mileage will vary based on usage, but either way, you don’t have to worry about your iPad mini’s battery dying at the wrong time.
iPad mini 7: Why skip it?
No landscape camera
All recently released iPads, including iPad 10th generation, iPad Air, and iPad Pro, have landscape-oriented front cameras. This was a welcome update as most people tend to use their tablets in landscape mode. Unfortunately, this isn’t a common design aspect of the new iPad mini.
As before, the iPad mini 7 has a portrait-oriented camera on the small left side. This position makes it difficult to center yourself during video calls or when trying to take a selfie. This might not be a big deal if you don’t participate in either activity, but for some it could be a deal breaker.
Apple Pencil 2 is not supported
If you own an Apple Pencil 2 and want to use it with your iPad mini, we have bad news.
Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C both work with iPad mini 7. The latter stylus has additional features such as squeeze and barrel roll. However, while the Apple Pencil 2 works with the iPad mini 6, it doesn’t work with the new iPad mini. If you want to write and draw on your iPad mini, but don’t want to use an Apple Pencil alternative, you’ll have to pay $79 or $129 for a USB-C or Pro stylus, respectively.
outlook
Despite some drawbacks, the iPad mini 7 is a great device for those who want the full iPad experience in a smaller size. The design, display, and battery life are still great, but now with faster performance and 128GB of storage.
If you’re looking for a small tablet that’s perfect for reading, watching videos, and playing games, the iPad mini is the perfect choice.
