Two months of utilization later, the iPad mini 7 remains to be an excellent 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, but it surely was solely ever a Netflix machine for me. With the discharge of the brand new seventh-generation mannequin that is all modified, and it’d 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 a couple of weeks with the brand new A17 Professional-powered, I believe I lastly get why you can purchase one.
The factor with new {hardware} is that you actually need to spend a protracted period of time with it to really perceive what it is all about. It offers 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 newest iPad mini. A pill that I used to be excited to get my palms on not as a result of I believed it could 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 one 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 head of Apple’s makes an attempt to show the pill into the laptop computer of tomorrow. I would wager that the iPad mini actually comes into its personal while you ignore the noise and simply settle for it for what it truly is — a display screen that is larger than an iPhone with out making an attempt to do an excessive amount of.
Certain, in order for you an iPad with an unimaginable M4 chip inside so you may crunch your means by way of complicated videography workflows on a shocking mini-LED show, the iPad mini is not for you. However when you take a look at your iPhone 16 Professional Max and want it was just a bit bit larger for a greater gaming expertise or looking 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 one among my most-used Apple gadgets.
iPad mini 7 two-month assessment: The Goldilocks gaming machine
You would be forgiven for forgetting the iPad mini existed and, till lately, it appeared that Apple had as nicely. 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 assessment: The iPad mini is sort of a Valve Steam Deck that runs iPadOS and your whole 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 much like that present in Macs.
However I would 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 identify, and the iPad mini’s actual superpower is its measurement.
Whereas it is true that iPhones are actually larger 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 circumstances, that is simply concerning the excellent measurement. Huge iPhones are cool and all, however no-one actually desires to observe a TV present or play a sport on one for an extended size of time.
Migrate to an iPad mini, and it is a complete new ball sport.
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.
Neglect the pace 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 you can play a console-quality Resident Evil sport on a cellphone that matches into your pocket.
As an alternative, choose up a brand new iPad mini, launch any sport from Apple Arcade, and sit back. You are in for a deal with because of a big, colourful show and greater than sufficient processing energy to fill it with enjoyable.
iPad mini 7 two-month assessment: The naysayer’s information
None of that is to say the iPad mini is not with out its issues, particularly when you’re somebody who dives into the specs. In the event you’re in search of faults, you will undoubtedly discover them right here.
For starters, that A17 Professional is loads quick, to make certain, and it is nonetheless the chip that powered Apple’s flagship iPhone till very lately. However in a world of M-series chips breaking benchmark data left and proper, it does really feel like a missed alternative for Apple. It could possibly be sooner, 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 side 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 a couple of 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 when you can see it, it may be infuriating to observe.
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 another way.
The important thing factor right here is that this seventh-gen iteration hasn’t basically modified the show in a means that may eradicate the problem. In the event you noticed it earlier than, you will see it right here, too.
The display screen could possibly be brighter, too. Then there are different limitations led to by the IPS show expertise, together with the gradual 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 swap to OLED expertise for its show.
However these issues would absolutely improve the worth and at its present $499 beginning worth, I would posit that it is already somewhat on the expensive facet.
In the end, it is simple to search out fault with any product. The true 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 assessment: How an iPad turned my go-to gadget
It must 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 handy.
iPad mini 7 two-month assessment: Couple an iPad mini with a sport 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 huge to make use of within the methods I need to, however not sufficiently big 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 accessible after which utilizing a 16-inch MacBook Professional when the iPhone’s show wasn’t sufficiently big. 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 by way of 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 exhausting to beat. Since it is so small, it will possibly go nearly wherever as nicely.
I discussed Balatro earlier and I do suppose that the iPad mini may be the right machine for enjoying that specific sport on. However the true 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 “normal” colorways out there when you favor.
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 sport streaming expertise is second to none on this factor. Little doubt thanks in no small half to the WiFi 6E (802.11ax) expertise the newest iPad mini presents.
Indisputably, one of many iPad mini’s key options is its measurement. Sarcastically it is one which absolutely places lots of people off shopping for it, too.
The iPad mini is sufficiently small that I can take it nearly wherever and all over the place with me, and having the mobile model helps right here. That in flip implies that I take advantage of 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 comparable story at dwelling, too, because the iPad mini feels a lot much less intrusive than its larger 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.
After all, Apple might put the iPad mini to mattress for as soon as and for all if it had been to launch a foldable iPhone much 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 assessment: The conclusion
In case it hasn’t turn out to be 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 finest, 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 assessment: The purple iPad mini seems 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 all the time be exhausting 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 customary can be ignored — folks see display screen 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 larger however discover even the 11-inch iPad Air or iPad Professional too unwieldy, the iPad mini is for you.
The actual fact it suits right into a sport controller and successfully turns itself right into a Valve Steam Deck and Nintendo Swap competitor actually should not be ignored. Frankly, that is going to be my important use case for this factor.
However it’s additionally the right type 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 help Apple Intelligence. For higher and for worse.
iPad mini 7 prosThe 8.3-inch show is the Goldilocks measurement — not too huge, not too small.
The minimalist type issue implies that the iPad seems trendy, nearly futuristic.
The A17 Professional chip helps Apple Intelligence and is loads 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 wherever, not like even the 11-inch iPads in Apple’s lineup.iPad mini 7 consSilicon watchers would little doubt name for an M-series chip.
Utilizing Contact ID appears like a blast from the previous and actually must be upgraded to Face ID.
The colours are barely there — my purple iPad mini seems like a silver one, and the opposite colours aren’t significantly better.
The show seems good, but it surely’s the primary one I’ve ever seen the slower 60Hz refresh fee on. 120Hz ProMotion subsequent time, please.iPad mini 7 two-month assessment: 4 out of 5iPad mini 7 two-month assessment: The place to purchase
The Apple iPad mini 7 is now on sale with reductions popping up right here and there. You will discover all of the lowest costs in our iPad mini Value Information so make sure you test there earlier than putting an order wherever else.
