New iPad Mini Reviews: Capable Small Tablet With Nearly All Features of New iPad Air

[springsup]

Remember when Apple used to make the best products they could?

No USB-C or Pencil2, all in a 7-year old design. They're just phoning it in at this point.

 

[WannaGoMac]

$299 looks like a better price

It will likely be near that price on sale by the holidays...

 

[Janichsan]

There is no way of getting around how bad those top and bottom bezels with the off-center Home Button look, especially when you compare it to the iPad Air.

+ u get the bigger bezels.

Oh, for Pete's sake, you are really just complaining for complaining sake, aren't you.

The bezels have exactly the same dimensions than in the previous iPad mini version, which - as I have to remind you - has been released about four years ago.

And the Home button has always been off center on the iPad, since the very first iPad nine years ago. If that isn't the case with current Air, it is the exception of the rule.

 

[ipedro]

What exactly is it about USB C that makes it a pro feature? Non-pro Macs have them.

It’s not that USB-c makes a device a Pro machine, it’s that not having USB-c excludes a device from being used by pros.

 

[WannaGoMac]

Remember when Apple used to make the best products they could?

No USB-C or Pencil2, all in a 7-year old design. They're just phoning it in at this point.

Have to agree. It's lazy and probably greedy.

Look, Apple is just trying to segment the "pro" from the "non-pro" line. This is the approach they've settled on.

I love my iPad 2018 that i got for $220. Does it have a fancy laminated screen? No. But, I got used to it and don't even care or notice anymore. Frankly, for my needs I really wouldnt spend more than $250 for an iPad - which is why I finally bought one, as even at $330 it just wasn't worth it to me for something i use for web surfing and email on a sofa.

The new Air i might do if there are SIGNIFICANT discounts on it during the holidays (i.e. at least $100 off)

 

[clayj]

The one unanswered question (at least, I haven't seen it answered yet): Does it play iTunes movies in HDR?

 

[Baymowe335]

Product release this week have just confused the market and buyers more. What a weird line up of features.

Proof anyone is confused?

 

[yossi]

What is the best ipad to get if I want to get my three kids a basic tablet for games/streaming?

 

[Oohara]

Don't worry guys. We'll get iPad Pro mini next year...

Hopefully!

 

[MacFather]

Deleted.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

What is the best ipad to get if I want to get my three kids a basic tablet for games/streaming?

definetly some cheap amazon stuff.
kids need robust rugged and cheap stuff - easy to replace!

 

[Oohara]

There is no way of getting around how bad those top and bottom bezels with the off-center Home Button look, especially when you compare it to the iPad Air.

The home button placement doesn't bother me honestly but the huge bezels do. And not just because they look bad. Part of the Mini's strength is its portability, and just imagine how easily it'd slide into a pocket WITHOUT those giant handles. Sure, a bit of bezel is good for a tablet, but it doesn't need to be more than on the Pro models.

 

[yossi]

definetly some cheap amazon stuff.
kids need robust rugged and cheap stuff - easy to replace!

Thanks - we have three amazon tablets and they are just horribly slow and crappy. I am actually asking about an Apple ipad and wondering what I should go with...last gen mini, current $329 ipad?

 

[Freida]

There really was no need to do reviews of these. Nothing really changed from what we know. There is no new technology, just updating the mini to be more uptodate with the rest we are familiar with.
So basically, the new mini as as responsive and fast as the other ipads after being so slow for ages.

Give us iOven reviews, please

 

[realtuner]

definetly some cheap amazon stuff.
kids need robust rugged and cheap stuff - easy to replace!

They asked for "best iPad" not "best tablet". Do kids also need to have their lives data mined from an early age?

@yossi: Just get last years budget iPad and a good case.

 

[WannaGoMac]

What is the best ipad to get if I want to get my three kids a basic tablet for games/streaming?

Something priced so when they break it you dont care. iPad 2018 model when on sale for $250 is perfect for kids to destroy.

 

[first-to-tea]

Too expensive for regular consumers. iPad mini used to be priced fairly for entry level iPad customers who don’t want a larger device.
As a long time Apple customer, I know I’m being screwed these days by Apple.

 

[ejin222]

$299 looks like a better price

I would've bought it at $299 even if it didn't have Pencil support..

 

[AZhappyjack]

There is no way of getting around how bad those top and bottom bezels with the off-center Home Button look, especially when you compare it to the iPad Air.

+ u get the bigger bezels.

The obvious solution for you is to simply pass on the new Mini. Problem solved. The bezels don't bother me... I'd have loved to have seen FaceID and Apple Pencil 2 support, but this is still a nice upgrade over the Mini 4, at least for me.

 

[Oohara]

Was waiting and waiting for the Mini to be updated, it never happened, so I settled for an iPad Pro, after having that I still want a smaller iPad...essentially the Pro (as I cannot go back from using FaceID and the sans bezel design), but in the Mini size...probably not going to happen.

Well I'm happy I'm not the only one who wants a Mini Pro, I might not be going mad after all then...

The Mini could be such a killer device if they'd only make more of an effort with it. Imagine it with an OLED display, Pencil 2 and a fancy leather cover - it would be the ultimate digital notebook, e-reader, portable gaming platform, ultra portable content viewing platform... I would kill for that. And I wouldn't mind paying a premium price either. With that, a small iPhone (I currently use a 7 Plus), the Watch and my MBP 15" I would have the PERFECT setup.

Normal size iPads don't interest me very much as I find my MBP 15" to be portable enough in that size category. I had the original iPad Air but I'd always end up using the MBP so I finally sold it. The Mini size category is where I would have no problems spending the big bucks to get a truly premium device.

But I guess we can only hope there'll be enough people wanting this at some point.

 

[realtuner]

There really was no need to do reviews of these. Nothing really changed from what we know. There is no new technology, just updating the mini to be more uptodate with the rest we are familiar with.
So basically, the new mini as as responsive and fast as the other ipads after being so slow for ages.

Give us iOven reviews, please

There is absolutely a good reason to review them.

How does the Pencil work on this screen vs the 120Hz screens in the Pro? Is there too much lag? Is drawing still fluid and responsive? Does the Pencil work on the smaller screen, or do your hands get in the way? How are the screens? Color accuracy? Brightness? How does the A12 hold up for extended periods of gaming?

 

[meaning-matters]

Disappointed with the usual storage jump and the usual rip-off pricing of the 'high-end' model.

 

[first-to-tea]

I don't think so. Every other iPad since the original (except mini 4) had a perfectly centered Home Button, if you take an external aluminum frame into account.

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Yes, where’s the beautiful symmetry these days in Apple products? Lots of compromises in the design to save on manufacturing costs. Apple needs to hark back to Steve Jobs level of attention to detailed perfection that used to set Apple products apart from HP, Samsung, Microsoft, etc

 

[AZhappyjack]

I’m buying one in a few weeks, can’t beat that form factor. I lost my iPad Pro a few months ago and I’ve been waiting on this updat to get back into the mini form factor, it’s perfect for reading and now I can use the pencil. Great update.

I, too, am very interested in this... going to wait a month or two and watch for a sale at BestBuy, B&H or another retailer... my quandary is the storage... 32GB is too small, but 256GB is more than I will ever use. My Mini 4 has 128GB and it's the sweet spot for me.
[doublepost=1553179016][/doublepost]

Remember when Apple used to make the best products they could?

No USB-C or Pencil2, all in a 7-year old design. They're just phoning it in at this point.

Not sure if this is accurate or not. I definitely don't think Apple phoned it in, but they also have to be concerned about cannibalizing their Pro line...

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Too expensive for regular consumers. iPad mini used to be priced fairly for entry level iPad customers who don’t want a larger device.
As a long time Apple customer, I know I’m being screwed these days by Apple.

IIRC didn't the original Mini sell for $329 back in 2012? Also didn't the Mini 2 sell for $399 back in 2013? If so $399 for the iPad Mini 5 is roughly the same price as the Mini 2. As others have mentioned around BF or Christmas you should see these for $299 maybe less.