Apple's premium compact tablet gets a speed boost for 2024 with new accessories and support for instant AI features, while delivering the full modern iPad experience in a compact package.
The iPad mini's updated design in 2021 was excellent, so it's no surprise that Apple has kept it largely the same with internal and side changes to support new accessories. But despite its smaller size, the new iPad mini is priced at £499 (€599/$499/A$799), which is between £329. Base model iPad and 11-inch iPad Air for £599.
The iPad Air, which looks like a smaller version of the new tablet, maintains the same 8.9-inch LCD screen as its predecessor, which is sharp, bright and has a low-glare coating for easy outdoor use. The “jelly scrolling” screen effect seen when scrolling in its predecessor has been improved, but you can still see it if you look hard enough.
The tablet's excellent stereo speakers make the most of any video or game. Its ultra-slim body weighs less than 300 grams and is approximately the same width as an A5 paper notebook. iPad mini is easy to hold, use, and store in bags.
Almost pocket size, ready to take notes, play videos or read books like a Kindle at school or on the go. Its predecessor found niches in various industries, including hospitality and healthcare, and pilots will no doubt love it.
The position of the video calling camera in the center left position when held horizontally does not change, instead being on the top edge to match the rest of Apple's iPad line. It still works well, but offers a low viewing angle for video calls, which is not ideal.
Budget
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screen: 8.9-inch 2266 × 1488 (326 ppi) LCD display
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Processor: Apple A17 Pro
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RAM: 8GB
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Storage: 128, 256 or 512GB
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Operating system: iPadOS 18
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Camera: 12MP rear and selfie cameras
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Link: Wi-Fi 6E (optional 5G eSim only), Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C, Touch ID
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Dimensions: 195.4×134.8×6.3mm
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Weight: 293g (4G version: 297g)
New A17 Pro chip and iPadOS 18
The biggest change to the new iPad mini is the upgrade to the A17 Pro chip that was originally used. iPhone 15 Pro. Offers a 30% speed increase over the previous model and an AI processor twice as fast.
It's in a class of its own compared to similarly sized tablets from competitors, but it's not as powerful as Apple's M2 or M4 chips used in its larger iPad Air and Pro models and it doesn't support some Apple-like features. computing. You can connect a monitor to the tablet via USB-C, but only for screen mirroring or video output, not as an external display. Status Manager is a multitasking system.
The battery lasts a little longer than its predecessor, with around 12 hours for streaming video over Wi-Fi or 10 hours for browsing, note-taking, and emailing with common apps. Playing games or more intensive use shaves two hours off the total, but it's still completely impressive for a tablet of this size.
The iPad Mini runs the latest iPadOS 18 with its many new customization options and a new Math Notes feature that's smart when used with a stylus. But like recently released iPhones, it lacks Apple's much-touted intelligence features, such as smart Siri, notification summaries, various AI writing tools, emoji, and image generators. They will release the iPadOS 18.1 update in beta in the US at the end of October and in the UK, Australia, and other English-speaking countries outside the US in December. Neither feature works in the EU.
Consistency
Apple doesn't give an expected lifespan for the battery, but it should last more than 1,000 full charge cycles with at least 80% of its original capacity and can be replaced from £115. The tablet can usually be repaired from £339 for a damaged out-of-warranty repair.
The tablet contains at least 25% recycled content, including aluminum, copper, glass, gold, tin, plastic and rare earth elements. Apple breaks down the tablet's environmental impact in its report and offers free exchange and recycling programs, including non-Apple products.
Price
The iPad mini A17 Pro starts at £499 (€599/$499/A$799) or £649 (€769/$649/A$1,049) with 5G.
In comparison, the 10th generation iPad is £329, the iPad Air M2 is £599, the iPad Pro M4 is £999, the Amazon Fire HD 8 is £99.99, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 is £169, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 costs £1,799 and the foldable Google Pixel The 9 Pro costs £1,749.
Judgment
Major chip and performance upgrades make iPad mini the best compact tablet available. It's unmatched by any of its closest rivals, whether it's a few cheap Android tablets or a new generation of super-expensive foldable phones.
Its virtually pocket-sized size makes it easy to store and fit in bags, while iPadOS offers many uses for a wide range of applications, not just entertainment. Equipped with a £129 Apple Pencil Pro, it's a particularly good, albeit expensive, paper notebook alternative.
The lack of M-series chips used in the iPad Air and Pro models limits their multitasking capabilities. An affordable 10th generation iPod is a great buy for most people looking for an Apple entertainment device. It's not a dramatic improvement over the 2021 model.
As phones get bigger and bigger, the iPad mini may seem redundant, but it's a favorite among journalists, pilots, and anyone who needs a compact, high-capacity tablet. For all of them, the new iPad mini A17 Pro is almost perfect.
Advantages: Compact design, great performance, 10 hour battery life, great display, USB-C, iPadOS, wide variety of apps, great speakers, great microphones, long software support, recycled aluminum, Apple Pencil Pro support.
Cons: The small and expensive size makes some applications difficult, the Terrain doesn't have a camera for video calling, advanced multitasking, or an M-series chip for computing use, which isn't a huge upgrade.
