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iPad Mini (2024) Review: Imperfect, but Impressive

As far as modern tablets are concerned, it’s probably safe to say that the 2024 edition of the iPad Mini pretty much dominates the compact tablet market segment. Sure, there are other compact tablets out there, but a lot of them come with compromises in terms of performance and build quality (to name a couple), and unlike a decade ago, there’s nothing from the Android side of things that goes the distance when it comes to challenging the iPad Mini.

On the other hand, Apple has been coasting – yes, the iPad Mini 7 is an impressive tablet, but there are some compromises that when taken into consideration might be a deterrent for otherwise potential buyers. Should you look past them, or should you steer clear of Apple’s latest compact tablet? Let’s take a look.

READ: The iPad Mini 7 is Proof that We Need Good Compact Android Tablets

iPad Mini (2024) Specs:

Design and Display

If you were expecting the iPad Mini 7 – otherwise referred to by Apple as the iPad Mini (A17 Pro) – to look different from the 2021 version, then you’d be mistaken. In fact, there’s virtually nothing setting apart the two devices from each other, save for the addition of new colors and the inscription of the word “mini” on the rear panel. Apple likes to play it safe when it comes to hardware design, and the iPad Mini 7 is a good example of this.

Apple’s commitment to keep things consistent is not without its faults, however – we still get the same 8.3-inch LCD display on the new tablet, with the same resolution. There’s no OLED technology or faster refresh rates unfortunately, and it’s not too bright especially for outdoor viewing. If top-of-the-line display specs are of great importance to you, then you’re better off with one of Samsung’s S-series tablets.

READ: Best iPad mini 7 (2024) cases

Of course you could make the argument that there’s nothing inherently wrong with this design that warrants change, although it would have been nice to see slimmer bezels on the newer version, or even the addition of a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate. But again, the end goal is to keep the iPad Mini 7 compact and familiar, and that’s what Apple has done here, albeit not in the most exciting or groundbreaking manner.

Internal Specs and Performance

Perhaps the biggest and most important change with the iPad Mini 7 is with performance – the 2024 version doubles the RAM from 4 to 8GB, and it now packs Apple’s A17 Pro chip, the same chipset found on the iPhone 15 Pro. It’s a nice upgrade especially compared to the A15 Bionic found on the 2021 model, although it is a slightly underpowered version compared to the A17 Pro on the iPhone 15 Pro.

Performance-wise, it’s pretty solid – everyday usage such as navigating the user interface, multitasking, and even gaming are generally smooth, and you’d be hard-pressed to slow down the iPad significantly. Battery endurance was likewise impressive, and moderate users can easily get a day and more out of the battery, but of course gaming will take this down a notch.

…everyday usage such as navigating the user interface, multitasking, and even gaming are generally smooth, and you’d be hard-pressed to slow down the iPad significantly.

Depending on how you feel about AI software on phones and tablets these days, the iPad Mini 7’s chipset and RAM configuration means that it will be compatible with Apple’s AI features. This adds a bit of future-proofing to the device, and folks after Apple’s generative AI tricks including custom emojis and improved photo-editing features (to name a few) will find a lot to love with the iPad Mini 7. There is of course the usual lineup of Apple-centric features such as iMessage and FaceTime, which will be ideal for users with other Apple devices in their ecosystem.

Camera Performance

As with all tablets these days, the iPad Mini 7 packs a pair of cameras on the front and back, both with a resolution of 12 megapixels. Unlike the iPhone series however, the cameras on the iPad Mini 7 aren’t particularly impressive, and will be mostly enough for document scans, video calls, and the occasional snapshot when your phone is out of reach.

With that said, it still out-performs most competing devices in the compact tablet space, and even comes with features like 4K recording, slow-mo and time lapse video modes, which aren’t often found on the dumbed-down camera software on some Android tablets out there. Just don’t go expecting spectacular-looking still images.

Final Thoughts

We previously wrote about how the iPad Mini 7 should be a prompt of sorts for Android manufacturers to step up their game within the compact tablet space, and for good reason. Apple’s newest addition to its iPad line comes with impressive performance, and is mostly carried by its internals such as the A17 Pro chipset, RAM configuration and battery. The addition of AI might even be enough to entice users who value such features on their device.

However, a starting price of $499 might raise a few more eyebrows than usual, especially when considering factors such as the so-and-so display and basic camera. If what you’re after is a compact tablet that doesn’t compromise on performance and build quality though, then the iPad Mini 7 might be the best option on the market. Just keep in mind that it doesn’t run on Android.

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