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 approach 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 number 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 really want to spend a protracted period of time with it to really perceive what it is all about. It provides 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 assumed 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 solely pill I intend to purchase from right here on out.
However two months on from its launch, that is more likely to be a controversial opinion in a world the place the iPad Pro is the head of Apple’s makes an attempt to show the pill into the laptop computer of tomorrow. I might 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 that is larger than an iPhone with out making an attempt to do an excessive amount of.
Certain, if you need an iPad with an unimaginable M4 chip inside so you possibly can crunch your approach via complicated videography workflows on a surprising mini-LED show, the iPad mini is not for you. However should you have a look at your iPhone 16 Professional Max and want it was just a bit bit larger for a greater gaming expertise or shopping the net, it is the one pill you want.
Let me clarify how the iPad mini that was as soon as a Netflix machine become the one pill I would like and considered one of my most-used Apple units.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: 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 overview: The iPad mini is sort of a Valve Steam Deck that runs iPadOS and your entire apps.
Different new iPads arrived throughout these three years, and that left the iPad mini working an previous 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 might 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 at the moment are 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 in regards to the good measurement. Large iPhones are cool and all, however no-one actually needs to look at a TV present or play a recreation on one for a protracted size of time.
Migrate to an iPad mini, and it is an entire new ball recreation.
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 and marketing.
Neglect the velocity of the M4 iPad Professional and its capacity to throw polygons and pixels round as in the event that they’re nothing. Ignore how cool it’s that you could play a console-quality Resident Evil recreation on a cellphone that matches into your pocket.
As a substitute, decide up a brand new iPad mini, launch any recreation from Apple Arcade, and sit back. You are in for a deal with due to a big, colourful show and greater than sufficient processing energy to fill it with enjoyable.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: The naysayer’s information
None of that is to say the iPad mini is not with out its issues, particularly should you’re somebody who dives into the specs. When you’re searching for faults, you may positively 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 might be quicker, is all I am saying.
Then there’s the show. I stand by my declare that at 8.3 inches it is nearly good 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 for the reason that Sixth-gen iPad mini went on sale a number of years in the past. The jelly scrolling scenario.
For the uninitiated, jelly scrolling is a phenomenon that causes some folks to see one aspect of the iPad mini’s show seem to scroll at a distinct price to the opposite. When it occurs and should you can see it, it may be infuriating to look at.
Fortunately for me, I can not see it or I merely do not use the iPad mini in a approach 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 approach that may eradicate the difficulty. When you noticed it earlier than, you may see it right here, too.
The display might be brighter, too. Then there are different limitations led to by the IPS show expertise, together with the gradual 60Hz most refresh price.
Apple may technically repair all of those points by placing one thing like an M2 chip right into a future iPad mini. It may additionally change to OLED expertise for its show.
However these issues would absolutely improve the worth and at its present $499 beginning worth, I might posit that it is already slightly on the pricey aspect.
In the end, it is easy to search out fault with any product. The actual enjoyable is available in discovering the place it excels and worms its approach into your life in methods you may by no means have anticipated it to.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: How an iPad turned my go-to system
It needs to be clear by now that I am fairly taken with this little pill. However as you may think, it is not the one system I’ve handy.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: Couple an iPad mini with a recreation streaming service and it is an entire new world.
I additionally personal a 2018 iPad Professional. An 11-inch pill that by some means manages to be too huge to make use of within the methods I wish to, however not large enough to essentially get an excessive amount of helpful work achieved on.
It by some means 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 lately revolved round no matter Professional Max iPhone is accessible after which utilizing a 16-inch MacBook Pro when the iPhone’s show wasn’t large enough. Then Apple despatched me an iPad mini loaner (with an Apple Pencil Pro) and now I do not wish 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 system I scroll via my socials on after I’m half being attentive to no matter’s on TV. It is the system 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 onerous to beat. Since it is so small, it could actually go nearly wherever as nicely.
I discussed Balatro earlier and I do suppose that the iPad mini may be the right machine for taking part in that specific recreation on. However the actual enjoyable comes after 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 “regular” colorways accessible should you choose.
Set up something from Apple Arcade or the App Store 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 recreation streaming expertise is second to none on this factor. Little question thanks in no small half to the WiFi 6E (802.11ax) expertise the newest iPad mini affords.
Unquestionably, one of many iPad mini’s key options is its measurement. Mockingly 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 exploit 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 house, 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 net.
After all, Apple may 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 overview: The conclusion
In case it hasn’t grow 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 greatest, a product that matches into a niche and does a job higher than anything that I’ve in my technological arsenal.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: The purple iPad mini seems to be extra silver than purple.
It is not good and there are positively 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 at all times be onerous to promote folks a small-screen pill for $500 after they can get a much bigger one for much less. The truth that the iPad mini has a greater chip inside and extra storage as customary will likely be ignored — folks see display measurement and assume that equates to cost.
However I am going to spherical issues out with a easy truth. If you end up 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 matches into a recreation controller and successfully turns itself right into a Valve Steam Deck and Nintendo Change competitor actually should not be missed. Frankly, that is going to be my predominant use case for this factor.
However it’s additionally the right type issue for sofa net 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 execs
- The 8.3-inch show is the Goldilocks measurement — not too huge, not too small.
- The minimalist type issue implies that the iPad seems to be 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’ll be able to take this factor wherever, in contrast to even the 11-inch iPads in Apple’s lineup.
iPad mini 7 cons
- Silicon watchers would little question name for an M-series chip.
- Utilizing Touch ID seems like a blast from the previous and actually needs to be upgraded to Face ID.
- The colours are barely there — my purple iPad mini seems to be like a silver one, and the opposite colours aren’t a lot better.
- The show seems to be good, but it surely’s the primary one I’ve ever seen the slower 60Hz refresh price on. 120Hz ProMotion subsequent time, please.
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: 4 out of 5
iPad mini 7 two-month overview: The place to purchase
The Apple iPad mini 7 is now on sale with reductions popping up right here and there. You may discover all of the lowest costs in our iPad mini Price Guide so you should definitely examine there earlier than putting an order wherever else.
