Review of the Apple iPad Mini (6th generation, 2021)
Good device for editing, gaming, and for business. Easy to carry
Price: £479
The short version is that the iPad Mini provides the full iPad experience, without compromise, in the smallest of form factors. But does it stand on its own, and did Apple make the right decision in moving it from entry-level to firmly mid-range?
The iPad Mini (2012) was Apple's first jump into mini tablets, in response to increasing Android competition. However, in terms of power and innovative apps, Apple's tablet has always been the clear winner - and this trend continues with the latest generation.
Design:
It looks fantastic and feels fantastic in the hand - truly cost-efficient. It's also slightly lighter than a large smartphone hidden in a case, weighing just under 300g, but with better weight distribution. Because it is smaller than A5, it should fit into bags, folders, and even sufficiently large pockets.
Instead of trying to copy the traditional iPad, the new Mini appears to be an iPad Air that got smaller in the wash. The Home button has been removed, leaving you with a blank canvas surrounded by a large but unobtrusive black bezel.
Cameras:
The front camera, on the other hand, is the same 12MP ultra-wide found in all iPads except the Air from last year. It noticeably improves video chat image quality and, with its 122° field of view, can follow you around the room via the Centre.
Don't want to be one of those people who treat their tablets like giant cameras? The smaller dimensions of the iPad Mini at least make you feel less ridiculous when taking photos. This tablet will still not be your primary camera, but the upgrade from 8MP to 12MP in the previous generation is welcome. The results are broadly comparable to the iPhone 11 or the fourth-generation iPad Air, though the other has an LED True Tone flash.
Features:
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| Features |
After stealing the Air's looks, the Mini steals its specs - and then some: Touch ID in the power button; USB-C connectivity; and a laminated anti-reflective True Tone/wide color display with a brightness of 500 nits.
Because you hold it closer to your face, the screen on this iPad is 326ppi, which is necessary rather than extravagant. It looks great, but it lacks Apple's Pro devices' 120Hz ProMotion. The A15 chip, on the other hand, is on an equal level with the latest iPhones and performs admirably with even the most demanding apps and games.
The new landscape stereo speaker setup is also impressive, and stereo image issues in the portrait are less noticeable than when using the iPad Air.
Eco-system:
Hardware-wise, USB-C expands the possibilities for accessories, not least fast external storage. More important is second-generation Apple Pencil support, with Apple's scribbling stick working beautifully with Quick Notes in iPadOS 15 and neatly snapping to the device to charge.
That should fade with time and updates, but it appears that something is more broadly wrong here, as Android does not have such issues. Notably, many games and apps have never been updated for the iPad Pro - but the tablet's relative screen acres make this less of an issue.
There are no restrictions with iPadOS, though Split View looks ridiculous on an 8.3 screen. A bigger concern is that many games and apps do not yet fill the entire screen, because of the new 14:9 aspect ratio.
Usability:
The Apple Pencil improves input and is near-essential for drawing, marking up, and fine detail in apps like MindNode. For gaming, the device is light to hold and virtual controls are easy to reach, though we imagine the experience would be enhanced with a stretchy gamepad.
The amount of text you need to input will determine whether this is your only iPad. We'll also include our long-standing complaint. Apple clearly does not want you to use a single device for everything, but rather to move seamlessly between several. However, if this powerful USB-C-equipped iPad had full external display support, there's no reason why it couldn't be your only computer, let alone your only iPad, with an external display, trackpad, and keyboard.
The Mini's size suggests certain use cases more than others - and this is noticeable when you have it in your hands. The interface can be fiddly at times, especially when typing, but we had no trouble finding photo editors and music creation apps that weren't littered with desktop-style panels.
Competition:
At £479 and up, it's clear that Apple isn't competing with lower-end Android tablets. You want an Amazon Fire HD if all you care about is Netflix, web browsing, and basic games. Instead, Apple has packed a full-fledged iPad experience into a small form factor, supported by a million fully optimized apps (rather than blown-up phone ones).
This scale and ambition exceed that of its competitors, and thus competition comes from Apple itself. Do you want a larger display? The iPad Air is £100 more expensive, but depending on your needs, the inferior front camera and lack of 5G may complicate matters. The standard iPad is a step back in terms of power, longevity, and display. However, as a low-cost iPad, it is now your only option, as the Mini has gone somewhere else entirely.
Random discoveries:
- The volume buttons are now on the same side as the power button, and a nice touch is that they change their behavior depending on the orientation of the device.
- While playing video games, it's annoyingly simple to turn the speakers off. We discovered it was helpful to have the volume buttons in the top right.
- If you're fortunate enough to be in a 5G area, the cellular version of this iPad has 5G capabilities for lightning-fast access.
- There is no Magic Keyboard or other external Apple keyboard for the Mini. We predict that Brydge and other parties will fill that gap.
Conclusion: Apple iPad Mini (2021):
After a recent event, Apple was widely criticized for a number of seemingly future availability rather than providing anything ground-breaking. And it could be argued that the iPad Mini is following what came before, namely the redesigned iPad Pro and the iPad Air from a year ago.
When it comes to the iPad Mini, the most recent update is transformative whether you look at the design, display, connectivity, or raw power. What matters is whether the new and changed features are meaningful. All of that must be weighed against a significant price increase and your unique needs. But the new iPad Mini is a great package if you value portability, don't need a traditional keyboard for your primary iPad use cases, and have the eyes for a smaller, sharper display.
Tech specs:
CPU: A15 Bionic with 5-core GPU
Operating system: Apple iPadOS 15
Storage: 64GB/256GB
RAM: 4GB
Display: 8.3in 2266×1488 resolution at 326ppi, True Tone, wide colour (P3)
Cameras: 12MP wide, ƒ/1.8 aperture rear; 12MP ultra wide, ƒ/2.4 aperture front
Connectivity: USB-C
Battery: Ten hours maximum
Colors: Starlight, pink, purple, and space grey
Dimensions: 195.4×134.8×6.3mm
Weight: 293g (cellular 297g)
TechliciousOfficial Says…
Score: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Although a somewhat niche product, especially given the price increase, the iPad mini with this update cements its position as the best small tablet available.
- Good Stuff
+ Significantly improved design
+ Packed with cutting-edge technology
+ Easily transportable
+ Ecosystem humiliates competitors
- Bad Stuff
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There is no Apple hardware keyboard.
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It has seen a significant price increase.
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Simple-to-muffle speakers
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A huge number of bordered apps/games
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