Even on the last day of Amazon’s October Prime Day sale, Apple’s current model iPad mini is still on sale for just $350. That’s $30 less than its Prime Day sale price in July, and a new all-time low for Apple’s smallest tablet. The 30% discount saves you $149 off the sticker price of $499. However, this benefit only applies to Prime members, so you must be a Prime member to receive the full discount.
It’s important to note that a new iPad mini may be announced soon. It will likely be announced during the yet-to-be-announced Apple event in October. But the new tablet is unlikely to be discounted. Additionally, considering that the 4th generation iPad mini has received five years of OS and security updates since being discontinued in 2019, and the 5th generation iPad models will continue to be supported even after end of life. Then what you buy now should be supported for years. Official lineup for 2019.
Photo credit: Valentina Palladino/Engadget
The smallest iPad in Apple’s lineup is now cheaper than ever. Of course, it could be because new models are coming out.
$350 on Amazon
We call the mini the best (and only) compact choice in our best iPad guide. As for where this model lands on Apple’s tablet continuum, at one end is the gigantic 13-inch, M4-powered, professional-only, computer-replacement iPad Pro. On the other side is a mini. It’s like a giant iPhone, capable of showing cooking videos, handling FaceTime calls, playing games, and more.
This little slab has an 8.3-inch screen and is very comfortable to hold in one hand thanks to the bezel that breaks up the difference in screen real estate and provides a comfortable place for your fingers to grip. It’s powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic system-on-chip (SoC), which is technically faster than the standard 10th generation iPad. It’s also compatible with the 2nd generation Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil USB-C.
When it launched in 2021, Engadget’s Valentina Palladino gave it a respectable review score of 89, praising its portability, which led me to use it more often than I expected. We also found the updated 12MP front camera especially great for FaceTime calls. Especially useful is the Center Stage feature that stays in focus as you move around the space.
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