iPad iPad Mini 7 60 Hz Screen Refresh Rate Should Be Illegal

[*~Kim~*]

The iPad Mini is priced premium, but is not a premium offering in terms of its specs
Most notably, the screen, which is the #1 component of importance for a tablet

It’s mid range at best - better than a base iPad in that it has 2x the RAM, a laminated display, Pencil Pro support and an A series Pro processor - then again, it often lags behind the Air which is the true mid ranger in Apple’s lineup. The Air 6 the chip from the previous iPad Pro, while the Mini is using a previous phone chip. It should have the current phone chip given this - and statistically will be left unchanged for longer the Air, making the use of the A17 Pro even worse. The Mini will look even worse if the base iPad moves away from standard A chips.

Mid range should be 90HZ, while the Pro is still on 120.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I just wish the iPads all had "the best screens possible" and then make differently tiered models (if it makes sense) with differing features

There just seem to be too many iPads honestly

"an amazing screen" should be the key feature of every iPad in my book
It's something every user would benefit from and appreciate, no matter what they do with it

 

[TechnoMonk]

The point is this: there is absolutely no reason to have such a low refresh rate on the iPad mini. It’s almost jarring when you compare it to other devices in this price range. 120 should be the standard for all apple products in 2025.

Don’t buy it, if it is not a good value. Apple is clear on their priorities in iPad line up or else where. It’s like saying I wnat ultra level watch because S10 costs a lot compared to other watches.

 

[kierennyc]

Don’t buy it, if it is not a good value. Apple is clear on their priorities in iPad line up or else where. It’s like saying I wnat ultra level watch because S10 costs a lot compared to other watches.

I bought it because the size makes it the most convenient to use iPad on the go. It’s just unforgivable on apples part to give it such a sub par screen.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Don’t buy it, if it is not a good value. Apple is clear on their priorities in iPad line up or else where. It’s like saying I wnat ultra level watch because S10 costs a lot compared to other watches.

The iPad Mini is unique in that most everyone buys it for the size (not price point or other features)

It'd be nice if they'd have an iPad Mini and iPad Mini Pro (or just the Pro honestly)

Even though I just said that, I think most every iPad Mini user would be happy with the same device the Mini 7 is .. but just with a better and more modern screen

I personally still prefer the 4:3 aspect ratio of my Mini 5, but I'd likely give it up to get a Mini 8 with a ProMotion screen (and I'd LOVE an OLED option)

 

[turbineseaplane]

Related to my post above

I don't understand why Apple can't simply to do a BTO option for the screen

Everything the same, but make a paid upgrade option for a ProMotion OLED screen.
Let those of us who want it...pay for it!

 

[ThailandToo]

So I’ve had my 13” M4 iPad Pro for a while and the screen is very good. I used to have an iPad Mini 6 and really liked it. I love the smaller size.

I had been back to the Apple Store a few times here and there and tried out the iPad Mini 7 on a few occasions and really like it for its size.

I hadn’t been to the Apple Store for a while… and just dropped in yesterday. Within 5 seconds of testing out the iPad Mini 7 I realized there is no way I could use it because of how terrible the screen refresh rate is. Everything is so choppy. It’s very noticeable and quite bad. As I have the Pro with the OLED and 120 Hz refresh rate, I can’t deal with the choppy Mini 7.

Interesingly, I also have an M3 MacBook Air (60 Hz refresh rate) and an M1 MacBook Pro (120 Hz refresh rate). I don’t notice the reduced refresh rate on the Air near as much. It’s very usable and a good experience.

I think one part of this is that in iOS and iPadOS, there are a lot of animations with multi-touch and things are more dynamic, so the refresh rates are much more noticeable.

Anyone else have a similar or different experience?

60Hz is far less of a problem than the horrific jelly scrolling.

 

[sparksd]

60Hz is far less of a problem than the horrific jelly scrolling.

Jelly scrolling is an oddball that some people don't notice and others are driven up the wall by it. I didn't notice it until I read about it and it still doesn't bother me in the least; for me, it's a total non-issue. I would definitely like a better display, though.

 

[TechRunner]

It's a huge difference if you try them both in hand

This. Don't let anyone tell you there's little difference between a Pro Max iPhone and a iPad Mini. In my anecdotal opinion, there's a world of difference, usage-wise, between an iPhone 16PM and a Mini 7.

 

[rui no onna]

Related to my post above

I don't understand why Apple can't simply to do a BTO option for the screen

Everything the same, but make a paid upgrade option for a ProMotion OLED screen.
Let those of us who want it...pay for it!

On that note, I wish there was a flicker-free LCD option on the Pro models for us suffering from OLED PWM issues.

 

[DSTOFEL]

iPad mini is not premium. iPad Pro is premium device. I just don’t get why some one would want iPad Pro and iPad mini with a iPhone screens much bigger than those tiny iPhone 4s or 5. I used to love my mini with iPhone 5, after moving to 7 plus barely used it. With my 13 PM, iPad Pro 13, iPad mini is redundant. If you want splurge, that’s great. If Apple wanted iPad mini to be premium, they probably could, but I doubt the volume of mini is worth.

I’d say the iPad mini is a hybrid of base/premium. Base in the sense that it has a 60 hz refresh rate, so-so speakers, LCD display…..but premium in the sense that it has a premium A17 Pro chip (eg., even if it’s “binned” & missing a GPU core), 8 GB ram, laminated display and P3 color gamut and Apple Pencil Pro support.

Apple’s got to segment these products somehow and I’d say, judging by the way we’re arguing over it, they’ve done a good job of positioning the Mini 7 into the overall mix of iPads.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

On that note, I wish there was a flicker-free LCD option on the Pro models for us suffering from OLED PWM issues.

Be like me and get a refurbished 11" M2 iPad Pro ...the response times aren't as good as OLED but its a flicker free display with "ProMotion."

 

[geta]

60Hz is far less of a problem than the horrific jelly scrolling.

Don’t care about the 60Hz refresh rate, never noticed the jelly scrolling, and still think the Mini is the best iPad out there.

 

[LostShadowGD]

Have only ever used 60Hz devices. I don’t care.

 

[rui no onna]

Be like me and get a refurbished 11" M2 iPad Pro ...the response times aren't as good as OLED but its a flicker free display with "ProMotion."

I already have 1TB cellular M1 iPad Pros in both sizes. The M2 doesn't seem to be much of an upgrade over that. 😅

 

[ThailandToo]

I notice jelly scrolling far more than 60Hz vs 120Hz. If I had to select only one factor that my display would be, no jelly scrolling would win out.

 

[Starfia]

Perhaps the most reliable remedy would be to complain to the European Commission about that one.

 

[DSTOFEL]

That’s a great point! I do find that the iPad mini, when used in landscape mode to be much less jittery!

I’m much the same as the original poster… In that I have an iPhone 15 Pro and an M1 iPad Pro 11 inch… Both with promotion and I find the mini 7 display to be very jarring… Jittery when used in portrait mode. I might even lock up the guy who designed this display if I ever met him😊

Unfortunately, portrait mode is the primary mode of use with the mini 7…at least for me. I’m OK with it because I got it at the 399 price for the base model and I figure I can always sell it for a reasonable price at some point. However, scrolling with the mini seven makes me almost seasick!

Man, wouldn’t a 120 Hz refresh rate on the iPad mini be fantastic .)

There’s an interesting review on YouTube… The constant geekery site! He compares the mini 7 with the mini 6 and talks about the jelly Scroll issue. He still sees it on the mini 7… but says it’s not as bad. However, he does see that scrolling is not as smooth now as it was on the Mini 6. A stuttering/jittery effect has been introduced on the Mini 7 in what appears to him to be as if the refresh rate might now be actually lower than 60 hz…perhaps an attempt to mitigate the jelly scroll effect (e.g. with the side effect being the “jitters”). I’ve never used a Mini 6. But, this jittery effect while scrolling with the Mini 7 is what I notice (e.g., while in portrait mode). I do find it jarring!

All of that said…I just bought it and I’m keeping it…as I said above! But, and this is a big butt: If I ever run into the developer responsible for the iPad Mini 7 display, I might just have to perform a “citizen’s arrest….citizen’s arrest”!

 

[Eric_WVGG]

I hadn’t been to the Apple Store for a while… and just dropped in yesterday. Within 5 seconds of testing out the iPad Mini 7 I realized there is no way I could use it because of how terrible the screen refresh rate is. Everything is so choppy. It’s very noticeable and quite bad. As I have the Pro with the OLED and 120 Hz refresh rate, I can’t deal with the choppy Mini 7.

So there's this thing about baseball players, the best of the best have been tested to have "better than perfect vision." Like, "perfect" is 20:20, right? Only that's not perfect, that's average. And for every person with below-average vision, there's someone with above average. The best baseball players have 16:20. (fun fact, you can get prescription eyeglasses that give you better vis; mine are 18:20)

You, my friend, are blessed with vision that can perceive very high frame rates, probably much higher than the average person. You're probably great at videogames.

I can only perceive the difference between 60hz and 120hz when they're side-by-side, and even then I find it more of a curiosity than something that assists or abets usability.

 

[joeblow7777]

Have only ever used 60Hz devices. I don’t care.

I use both 120Hz (my phone) and 60Hz (iPad and MBA) and I honestly don't get what the big deal is. When I'm just using the device and not consciously thinking about it and scrolling the screen quickly to intentionally see a difference, I don't really notice it. I know that the fast refresh rate is better, and I can see a difference, but it doesn't make a practical difference in the user experience for me.

As for jellyscroll, I've tried Mini 7 display units and as far as I can tell, the issue has been improved to the point where you have to be trying pretty hard to notice it in order to see it. If I've learned one thing about tech and about life in general it's that if you're determined enough to find a problem you will always succeed.

 

[mpetrides]

just don’t get why some one would want iPad Pro and iPad mini with a iPhone screens much bigger than those tiny iPhone 4s or 5. I used to love my mini with iPhone 5, after moving to 7 plus barely used it. With my 13 PM, iPad Pro 13, iPad mini is redundant. If you want splurge, that’s great. If Apple wanted iPad mini to be premium, they probably could, but I doubt the volume of mini is worth.

Well, I use my iPad mini and my 11 inch M4 iPad Pro to read eBooks. I've tried doing that on iPhone Pro Max screens and the screen size just isn't large enough, whereas the mini's screen is pretty much exactly the same size as a trade paperback.

 

[profcutter]

Related to my post above

I don't understand why Apple can't simply to do a BTO option for the screen

Everything the same, but make a paid upgrade option for a ProMotion OLED screen.
Let those of us who want it...pay for it!

I’m generally on board with you, but given apple’s BTO pricing, the delta between a base iPad mini on sale and one with the box ticked for OLED, which would never go on sale, would probably be 300 dollars!

 

[richinaus]

returning the iPad mini 7 tomorrow. came from an iPad pro as needed a smaller tablet for quick sketches and books.

slow, choppy and i cant get used to the enormous out of scale bezels. Also missing faceid too much.

if they had released an mini pro model, they would have got a sale, as the price is not the decider.

Instead, I am now very tempted to get a samsung fold and also ditch my iPhone as well ! we will see..... [probably won't happen ]

 

[TechRunner]

Also missing faceid too much.

That's the one glaring omission for me when I jump from my 16PM to my Mini 7. I don't mind using Touch ID but man, it would be nice to have Face ID on the iPad Mini!

 

[d5aqoëp]

How about 30hz “Slow-Motion” screen with DLSS4 fake frames inserted using AI? I am sure no one will notice to reach 120hz?