Early reviews and hands-on impressions of the new iPad mini came out today. Most publications agree that the iPad mini is a great update for fans of the smaller 7.9-inch tablet with almost identical tech specs to the new iPad Air. That includes the same A12 Bionic chip, 8-megapixel rear camera, 7-megapixel front camera, Touch ID, Lightning connector, 64GB and 256GB storage options, two speakers, headphone jack, Gigabit-class LTE, first-generation Apple Pencil compatibility, and up to 10 hours of battery life. The new ‌iPad mini‌'s only notable differences versus the new ‌iPad Air‌ are its smaller screen and lack of Smart Keyboard compatibility. As The Verge's Nilay Patel notes, however, the ‌iPad mini‌ design is now very old: You're still looking at the exact same external design, which is now nearly seven years old. If you secretly replaced any previous ‌iPad mini‌ with the new one, there's a chance you might not even notice the difference. All the changes to this new mini are on the inside, and they're significant — which they should be, given the amount of time since it was last refreshed. And while the ‌iPad mini‌ finally supports the ‌Apple Pencil‌, it comes with all of the downsides of the first-generation version: …the iPad Pro came out late last year with a new second-gen pencil that magnetically clips onto the side of the iPad and charges wirelessly, but this new mini doesn’t have any of that. Instead, you’ve got Apple’s first-gen Pencil, which has never been a triumph of design or usability. You still pair and charge it by plugging it into the bottom of the ‌iPad‌, which looks even more ridiculous on the mini, and the cap is still insanely easy to lose. As for the ‌iPad mini‌ sticking with the Lightning connector, Apple told Patel that it views USB-C as a "pro" feature — aka ‌iPad Pro‌. Patel added that "the display is very nice" on the new ‌iPad mini‌ despite not having the ‌iPad Pro‌'s ProMotion variable refresh rate for smooth scrolling, but found that its same old 8-megapixel rear camera "takes at best medium-good photos." Most reviews conclude that if you want the smallest ‌iPad‌ possible, the new ‌iPad mini‌ is quite capable and at least somewhat reasonably priced at $399. And with little competition from Android tablets, the ‌iPad mini‌ is one of the only small tablets worthy of consideration in the first place. Patel's closing paragraph: But the decision to get an ‌iPad mini‌ is simple: do you want a small, capable tablet? If you do, the mini is obviously worth $399, especially when you consider how long Apple has supported iPads for in the past. There’s just nothing else like it. Let’s just hope that next time we don’t have to wait four years for Apple to remember it exists again. Lauren Goode of Wired: I haven't fallen in love with the new Mini, just as I never felt the need to buy one before. But I could see why people would. It's less burdensome than a lot of other things we carry. It's not quite pocketable, but it's close. Again, I can't hold it in one hand, but some people can, I'm sure. The Mini feels personal in a way that other devices no longer do. Not because of its actual newness, but because it is still here, and slightly reinvented once again. Harry McCracken of Fast Company: It still looks like an ‌iPad‌ Mini–complete with home button and headphone jack. But after three loooooong years, Apple’s little tablet is finally getting the features it needs to qualify as a modern ‌iPad‌. Chris Velazco of Engadget: I'd actually argue it's perhaps the best small tablet out there right now. There's more than enough power here for most people, and if portability is your biggest concern, there's no denying the mini is more convenient to lug around. Raymond Wong of Mashable: There simply isn't a tablet as powerful as the new ‌iPad mini‌ with the same or similar dimensions. You can get a 7-inch Kindle Fire for $50, but it's demonstrably inferior in every way from the construction, to the app selection, to the performance, to the storage, to display, and etc. Scott Stein of CNET: An ‌iPad‌ Mini with a faster processor and Pencil support is filling a specific need not everyone will have. It's like a specifically sized screw, or a particular TV size. As Apple keeps splitting its ‌iPad‌ line into more variants, the Mini feels far less essential than ever, particularly as the iPhone screens creep to six inches or more. But if you need an efficient ‌iPad‌ this size and don't want a bigger ‌iPhone‌ for the job... well, this is what you're looking for. Videos play play The new ‌iPad mini‌ can be ordered now on Apple.com and will be available in Apple Stores starting next week.<doc-sep>For four years now Apple has been charging $400 for the iPad Mini 4. Even when it released the 2018 iPad at $330 – a tablet which boasts a 9.7-inch screen and superior specs across the board, it continued to charge $400 for an aging tablet from 2015. But if you wanted a compact Apple tablet it was your only choice. Every passing year, and at every Apple event, the rumors about an update for the Mini line would surface, but it never materialized. Until now. Apple has finally unveiled the iPad Mini 5 and retired the old model. The fact that Apple chose to do it quietly, without the usual Apple event, tells you everything that you need to know about this limp update. What exactly is new? At first glance, the new iPad Mini looks identical to the old one. At second glance, it still looks identical. That’s because it is identical. It has the same big bezels above and below the 7.9-inch screen; the same Touch ID home button; the same aluminum back in the same space gray, silver, or gold colors. What has changed? Apple has put a new processor inside, upgrading from the A8 to the A12 Bionic, which is the new chip powering the iPhone XS, XS Max, and iPhone XR. It has tweaked the storage options to 64GB or 256GB. It has replaced the 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera with a 7-megapixel camera. Other than that, the display now supports the Apple Pencil and TrueTone technology with a wider color gamut. If you waited four years for this, you’d be forgiven for being a little underwhelmed. It’s the bare minimum. Apple hasn’t even changed the price – it will start from $400 just like its predecessor. You have to feel sorry for any poor sap who bought an iPad Mini 4 recently. Alongside the new iPad Mini, we got another new iPad – an unexpected new iPad Air. It replaces the outgoing 10.5-inch iPad Pro. At first glance it looks identical to the iPad Pro it’s replacing. At second glance…you get the picture. Apple has stuffed some slightly less impressive guts into an old 10.5-inch iPad Pro chassis and released it as the iPad Air, which starts from $500. Now, the 2019 iPad Mini is for people who want a compact tablet. The iPad Pro — which starts at $800 and up — is for professionals, and the $330 9.7-inch iPad is for everyone. Who is the iPad Air for? Honestly, who is it for? I have no idea why anyone would buy it over the $330 iPad from 2018. Paying an extra $170 for a slightly bigger screen and a slightly faster processor seems like a big ask. It seems to sit uncomfortably in an unappealing middle ground. Not powerful enough to be an iPad Pro, and not cheap enough to be tempting. But presumably people stopped buying the 10.5-inch iPad Pro when the newer models came out, so Apple decided to repurpose the design. Lacking excitement Apple is the only company that can get away with this kind of thing. The fact that it’s already manufacturing tablets with these designs makes it inexpensive for Apple to tweak the guts and rake in more profits. It did the same thing with old iPhone 5 skeletons, pressing them into service as the iPhone SE with all new insides. If you believe Apple’s hype about what good design is and the direction it’s working towards, then you have to frown as it dusts off old designs like this and calls them new. The 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models show the direction Apple is going in with genuinely next generation tablets. It’s impossible to get excited about these new iPads because they aren’t exciting, and Apple knows that. Apple tells us that facial recognition is more convenient and secure than fingerprint scanning, which is true. It tells us that USB-C is the way forward, which is also true. It tells us that we don’t need a headphone jack anymore, which is more debatable. It shrinks down the bezels and squeezes maximum screen into its devices. Then it goes back on all this and asks us to buy a four-year-old design. The “new” iPads also bring Apple Pencil compatibility, but only the first generation Apple Pencil. The second generation Apple Pencil, which is also just called the Apple Pencil, and came out six months ago, does not work with the new iPad Mini or iPad Air. This is bound to confuse people. It’s impossible to get excited about these new iPads because they aren’t exciting, and Apple knows that. Rather than congratulate it for upgrading the Mini line at last, you have to wonder why it thought it was acceptable to keep selling a four-year-old tablet for $400. The new iPad Mini and the iPad Air feel like lazy updates that are more to do with shifting old stock than creating something truly desirable. Editors' Recommendations<doc-sep>First released in 2015, the iPad Mini 4 remained the latest in its line for four long years before the iPad Mini 5 was launched in 2019. The two Apple tablets look nearly identical to the casual observer, but Apple introduced some important upgrades with the iPad Mini 5, such as a new chipset and more RAM. However, is it a better tablet overall, and should you upgrade to the iPad Mini 5 if you already own an iPad Mini 4? Whether you’re shopping for a new tablet, or looking to upgrade from the older model, you’ll want to know how the iPad Mini 5 measures up. We compare the two tablets in this head-to-head, helping you to decide which is the device for you. Specs iPad Mini 5 iPad Mini 4 Size 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1 mm (8.0 x 5.31 x 0.24 inches) 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1 mm (8.0 x 5.31 x 0.24 inches) Weight 300 grams (10.59 oz) 299 grams (10.55 oz) Screen size 7.9 inches 7.9 inches Screen resolution 1536 x 2048 pixels 1536 x 2048 pixels Operating system iOS 12 iOS 12 Storage space 64GB, 256GB 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB MicroSD Card slot No No Tap-to-pay services No No Processor Apple A12 Bionic Apple A8 RAM 3GB 2GB Camera Rear 8MP, front 7MP Rear 8MP, front 1.2MP Video 1,080p at 30fps, 720p at 120fps 1,080p at 30fps, 720p at 120fps Bluetooth version Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 4.0 Ports Lightning Lightning Fingerprint sensor Yes Yes Water resistance No No Battery 5,124mAh 5,124mAh App marketplace Apple App Store Apple App Store Network support All major carriers (Cellular version only) All major carriers (Cellular version only) Colors Silver, Gold, Space Gray Silver, Gold, Space Gray Price $400-plus $400-plus Buy from Amazon Walmart Review score 4 out of 5 stars 3.5 out of 5 stars Performance, battery life, and charging Probably the biggest upgrade in the iPad Mini 5 is the processor. Going from the A8 to the A12 Bionic is a major leap. The more recent iPad Mini will be faster, more capable, and more efficient. It will be able to handle the latest and most demanding games and apps, as well as augmented reality. This is helped by the fact that it comes with 3GB of RAM, as opposed to the 2GB of the iPad Mini 4. The iPad Mini 4 also comes with various underwhelming storage options, from a paltry 16GB up to 128GB; the new iPad Mini offers either 64GB or 256GB. Both devices pack batteries with a capacity of 5,124mAh, so you should get about ten hours or so of moderate use out of them before needing to recharge. Sadly, recharging is done via the same old Lightning port in both, and there’s no support for wireless charging. Winner: Apple iPad Mini 5 Design and durability The design of the iPad Mini 5 is exactly the same as the iPad Mini 4. The dimensions are identical — the 7.9-inch screen size, Touch ID, even the colors of the aluminum back are all the same. There’s no difference in the external design whatsoever. There’s no IP rating for these tablets and no discernible difference in durability. This means only one thing: a tie. Winner: Tie Display While both iPad Mini models have a 7.9-inch screen with a 2048 x 1536 pixel-resolution, there are a couple of subtle differences in display quality according to Apple. The newer iPad has a wider color gamut, so colors generally appear a little more vivid, and it supports Apple’s True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts white balance based on the light level around you to keep the screen legible and offer the best viewing experience. It’s not a huge difference, but it’s enough for the iPad Mini 5 to win this round. Winner: Apple iPad Mini 5 Camera You’ll find an 8-megapixel main camera in both iPad Minis. While they’re the same on paper, the latest model also has a newer sensor that does offer slightly better performance. Where there’s a more obvious upgrade is in the front-facing camera, which jumps from just 1.2 megapixels to 7 megapixels. That’s good news for Face Time and selfies, which will be improved quite noticeably. Winner: Apple iPad Mini 5 Software and updates Apple is great at updating its software, and the iPad Mini 4 has been updated to have the same iPadOS 14 software as the new iPad Mini 5. We’re giving this category to the newer iPad because its newer processor will mean it can continue to be updated for longer than the older model. Winner: Apple iPad Mini 5 Special features The iPad Mini 5 brings support for the Apple Pencil, which will be a pleasing development for artists and note-takers who prefer to write by hand. The first-generation Apple Pencil will still cost you $100. Sadly, the iPad Mini 5 is not compatible with the newer, second-generation Apple Pencil. The A12 Bionic processor also allows the iPad Mini 5 to offer augmented reality apps and games, although these remain fairly limited in number at the present moment in time. Winner: Apple iPad Mini 5 Price The iPad Mini 5 starts from $400 for the 64GB Wi-Fi-only version and rises to $680 for the 256GB version with Wi-Fi and Cellular support. It’s available from the Apple store along with many other electronic megastores and brand name sellers. While Apple no longer manufactures the iPad Mini 4, you can still buy it online through various sellers. Despite its discontinuance, it still cost $400, but we’re sure that you can get it for much cheaper nowadays. Overall winner: Apple iPad Mini 5 If you’re a long-time iPad Mini 4 owner who’s been perfectly content with its performance thus far, then you’ll be just as happy with the similar design of the iPad Mini 5. You should upgrade immediately because it’s the same tablet with an improved processor, higher quality front-facing camera, Apple Pencil support, and additional improvements to the display. The hard truth that so much stayed the same is disappointing, especially if you’ve been craving a compact, truly next-generation Apple tablet.<doc-sep>Apple iPad Mini 5 Score Details DT Editors' Choice “The iPad Mini is the best small tablet you can buy today.” Great screen Strong performance Portable and compact Apple Pencil support Good battery life (so far) Same old design No second-gen Apple Pencil support Fast charging adapter and cable not included MSRP $400.00 The 12.9-inch iPad Pro sits next to my home desktop computer. Its beautifully large screen is a creative canvas I love using, Face ID continues to feel futuristic, and the magnetic, second-gen Apple Pencil is so darn convenient. So you can understand my disappointment as I first laid eyes on the new iPad Mini. Apple hasn’t refreshed its smallest slate since 2015, and after four years, I felt like we’d see something akin to the redesign of the latest iPad Pro tablets. I was too hopeful. The iPad Mini (fifth generation) has a near-identical body to its predecessor, with almost the same chunky edges around the 7.9-inch screen. It even skips out on Face ID and resurrects Touch ID, which I thought the world wouldn’t see again after its presence on the 2018 iPad. None of this means the iPad Mini is a bad tablet. In fact, it’s the best tablet in its size category. It has beastly performance, the software is fluid, and the display is quite stunning. It’s just holding onto some quirks I would have liked not to see in 2019, even at $400 (or half the price of an iPad Pro). Same design, great display Looking at the iPad Mini puts me back in 2015. It feels so out of place in today’s world of edge-to-edge screens on smartphones, laptops, and TVs. The thick edges flanking the 7.9-inch screen stick out, especially on the silver and gold color options that have a white front. Now this is partly subjective — if the thick edges (or bezels) around the screen don’t bother you at all, then you’ll absolutely have no issues with this device. But what’s so great about the iPad Mini is what’s in its name. It’s “mini,” and compact. At 7.9 inches, it’s easy to hold this tablet with one hand while reading (granted, I have large hands). And at just 0.66 pounds (0.68 for the cellular model), with just a 6.1mm thickness, using it for some time doesn’t feel weary. It should be noted, there simply aren’t a lot of small tablets left in the market — especially powerful ones — save for devices like the Huawei MediaPad M5. So the iPad Mini’s lack of an edge-to-edge screen doesn’t make it feel as immersive as the fantastic one outfitted on the 2018 iPad Pro — that doesn’t mean the display isn’t stunning. It’s bright (500 nits, to be exact), and it’s a Retina display with a 2,048 x 1,536 resolution at 326 pixels per inch. Text and images on the screen look sharp, and at a reasonable viewing distance, you won’t see any pixels when watching YouTube or movies on Netflix. Colors look vibrant thanks to support for a wide color gamut, which is new in the iPad Mini series. Blacks aren’t as deep as I’d like, but I’m nitpicking here. This is a fantastic screen, and iPad Mini owners will be more than satisfied. Apple has added support for True Tone display, which changes the color tone of the screen depending on the environment to make it easier on the eyes. It’s a nice addition that helps the screen look a little more natural in various lighting conditions. The excellent screen experience is paired with Touch ID at the bottom bezel on the front which, in case you forgot, is the home button. You can still use iOS gestures — like on the iPhone XS — to navigate the operating system, but the home button helps take you home no matter the app you’re in. Using the fingerprint sensor to access sensitive apps or to unlock the iPad Mini itself is relatively fast, though I’ve gotten used to the convenience of Face ID on the iPad Pro and Apple’s latest phones, which now feels faster, as it unlocks as soon as it sees my face. The iPad Pro makes my heart flutter when I glance at it, and I wish I could say the same for the iPad Mini. Touch ID does have a leg up on when you’re trying to unlock the tablet when it’s flat on a table, though, as you don’t need to pick it up. I can see people happy with the return of Touch ID, which I don’t mind at all. There’s no Alert Slider on the tablet anymore. You’ll just find a power button at the top (in portrait orientation), and a volume rocker on the top right edge. At the bottom edge is a Lightning charging port, which is flanked by bottom-firing speakers. Apple sees its iPad range like buying a car — the lower in price you go, the fewer features you get. I get it; with a lower price, you get compromises. But I don’t care if Face ID isn’t available or if there’s no USB-C port: I want a more modern design. Apple could have made something truly special here — the iPad Pro makes my heart flutter when I glance at it, and I wish I could say the same for the iPad Mini. Powerful specs, and iOS 12 The biggest changes to the iPad Mini are on the inside, and there are some impressive upgrades. It’s powered by the same chip that’s inside Apple’s latest iPhones — the A12 Bionic processor — which is still one of the fastest mobile processors on the market. It’s not as good as the A12X Bionic inside the latest iPad Pros, but you’re getting plenty of power. I played games like Marvel Strike Force, Alto’s Odyssey, Inside, and Assassin’s Creed: Rebellion, and the iPad Mini had no reason to slow down or show signs of stutter. That extends to just using iOS 12 day-to-day — everything feels buttery smooth. Apps are quick to open, navigating the OS feels fluid, and multi-tasking is seamless.<doc-sep>
The 2019 iPad mini reviews are out, and they are pretty consistent – with four clear themes emerging. First, this is an evolutionary device, not a revolutionary one. That’s in large part because Apple wanted to hit the same price-point, one likely driven more by business customers than consumers. From waiting staff in restaurants to delivery drivers, the business market is a key reason Apple has chosen to update the iPad mini … Second, while it’s disappointing that the new mini doesn’t adopt the design language of the iPad Pro range, nor all of their features, it does do the most important thing: beef up the internals to turn it into a powerful device you’ll be able to use for years to come. Third, this is hands-down the best small tablet on the market. There are better options if you don’t need something this compact, but if size is key, there’s nothing that comes close. Finally, if you already love the iPad mini, the compromises this makes won’t matter to you. It may be squeezed in between a large-screened iPhone and 9.7-inch plus tablets, but it does a job nothing else can do. If you already have an older model, you’re going to want this one. Fans of the size will forgive its weaknesses, but the are better alternatives otherwise. The design is showing its age a little bit. Apple didn’t include Face ID and there are still bezels around the screen, for example, so it looks pretty much exactly like the iPad Mini that launched in 2015 [but] the new iPad Mini dramatically improves the components that matter most: the screen and the processor. The iPad Mini is for people who want a smaller iPad with all of the power of the new iPad Air. I think there are a lot of those people and, even if you don’t think you want a smaller iPad, it’s worth checking out. That said, if you’re bargain hunting and just want any iPad, consider the regular 9.7-inch model. It’s a year old and not as powerful, but only costs $329. If you want a bigger screen than what the iPad Mini offers but still want the new A12 chip, consider the new iPad Air which is only $100 more. Combines power with portability, but probably not the right choice for most people. I’m glad the iPad mini still exists, and it packs some crucial updates that make it worth using in 2019. I’m just not convinced it’s the right tablet for most people […] I can’t help but feel a little disappointed that Apple didn’t see fit to revise the mini’s design after a more than three-year hiatus. It just looks a little dated. That’s not to say there aren’t any noticeable changes here, though […] There’s more than enough power here for most people, and if portability is your biggest concern, there’s no denying the mini is more convenient to lug around [but] Apple’s no-frills, 10-inch iPad costs $70 less than the mini, and the arguably superior new iPad Air costs only $100 more than the mini. If I’m the kind of person who hasn’t upgraded my tablet in a while, or if I’m new to iPads in general, either of those options seem like more sensible choices. This is the iPad mini renovated, not reimagined. More than three years after Apple last upgraded its smallest tablet, it’s given us a new version that looks just like the old one, with the same 7.9-inch screen size and starting price of $399 […] Though the screen size and resolution remain the same, the display is now 25% brighter, offers a wider color gamut for more vividly realistic images, and features Apple’s True Tone technology […] As for processing power, the Mini now runs Apple’s A12 Bionic chip, like the current iPhones. That gives the tablet potent graphics and Apple’s neural engine, a coprocessor tuned for on-device AI […] Bottom line: The Mini now runs all iPad apps well, as an iPad should. Just as important, it should be well equipped to handle future apps–even if you hold onto a new Mini for a few years, as people tend to do […] Still, I hope that elements from the iPad Pro line filter down to the iPad Mini–along with the iPad Air, and the $329 iPad–in models to come. At some point, aspects of the new Mini that are now pleasantly familiar will feel stale.