The iPad mini (6th generation) was released back in 2021, and it is apt to say that everyone has been waiting for a refreshed version since. In a surprise drop, Apple announced the launch of the latest iPad mini last week.
In a super portable design, the new iPad mini is much faster in terms of performance. Powered by the A17 Pro chip, the new iPad mini is built for Apple Intelligence (which will only be available later this year). Fitted with a bunch of amazing features, here’s a review of my experience with the new iPad mini.
Overall Look & Feel
At just 6.3mm thin and coming in at just slightly under 500 grams, the iPad mini (7th gen) fits nicely in the palm of my hand, making it easy to bring around. Even with the Smart Folio, the iPad mini is incredibly portable and light. Touch ID is now available on the iPad mini through the top button, allowing one to unlock the iPad or use Apple Pay quickly. The shade of blue is stunning, yet neutral enough to make it easy to pair with different accessories and outfits.
Display
The 8.3” Liquid Retina display features all the cool things you’d expect Apple to include – from True Tone, to high brightness, to full-screen lamination, and more. The anti-reflective screen coating provides the lowest reflectivity in the industry, allowing one to experience the iPad mini in all types of lighting conditions comfortably. I tested it out by the pool while trying to get a tan in, and I was still able to watch my favorite show despite the bright sunlight.
A17 Pro Chip
Compared to the previous iPad mini, the A17 Pro chip delivers up to a 30% increase in performance in the new one. The new 5-core graphics engine pushes the GPU performance to up to 25% more than the previous iPad mini, making gaming on the new iPad mini hyper realistic.
Gaming
I tested out a few games – from lo-fi ones, to slightly more action intense ones, and found that the graphics were comparable to the iPad Air and iPad Pro that were launched earlier in May. Some may prefer to game with a larger screen real estate, but I found it rather enjoyable to play games on the iPad mini with its portability making it easy to game on the go.
Photography & Videography
Shooting images and 4K HD videos with the 12MP camera on the iPad mini is absolutely stunning. The iPad mini is tiny enough to allow versatility to shoot in different modes, from Panorama images, to Slo-mo videos, to Time-lapse videos and more.
Apple Pencil Pro
Did you know that the new iPad mini works beautifully well with the Apple Pencil Pro now? Screaming in productivity! The possibilities in both the creative realm and in terms of productivity are limitless, especially when the Apple Pencil Pro was designed precisely for them. Apple Pencil Pro expands on your actions more intuitively, whether it be with hover, haptic engine, or with Find My. Similar to the iPad Air and iPad Pro that were launched in May, the iPad mini comes with a magnetic interface to pair, charge, and store the Apple Pencil Pro.
Apple Intelligence
With an intricate integration into iPadOS 18, the A17 Pro chip delivers an unprecedented amount of support for Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence is designed to enhance our daily usage of the iPad mini from Writing Tools, to Siri, and Photos. Apple Intelligence features will come to the iPad mini later this year. I’m definitely excited to test out the new functions powered by Apple Intelligence.
Yay or Nay?
This is an easy yay for me – nothing beats a light, small, handy and portable iPad to hop on daily tasks while on-the-go. This might be my favorite fun-sized iPad to date.
Pricing & Availability
The new iPad mini comes in 4 stunning finishes, with the brand-new Purple and Blue joining Starlight and Space Grey.
The Smart Folio for iPad mini comes in the same 4 colors, to perfectly complement the new iPad mini finishes. The best part about the Smart Folio is definitely the magnetic feature that snaps to the iPad mini, and automatically wakes your iPad mini when opened.
Available in 128GB, 256GB or 512GB storage capacities, the iPad mini starts at S$699. Pre-order today, and have it in your hands from 23 October 2024 onwards.
