Apple surprised everyone yesterday by introducing an updated iPad mini. What was less surprising was the package itself. It has the same look, but it's bathed in some new colors and riding on the power of A17 Professional silicon to enable Apple Intelligence.
“Built for Apple Intelligence,” the company says in its press headline. The tablet's 8.3-inch display is blessed with support for Apple Pencil Professional, which offers tricks like pressure recognition for strokes, scrolling, barrel roll, haptic feedback, and Discover My support.
The starting price is still $500 for the Wi-Fi variant, while the cellular version will set you back $649. Fortunately, the base storage capacity is now 128GB, not 64GB. That's the end of the upgrade story and it leaves me terribly confused about what the point of the new iPad mini is and who should buy it.
The new iPad mini doesn't solve anything
In retrospect, that also means that the iPad mini doesn't improve on any significant aspects that also held its predecessor back. Since Apple introduced the sixth-generation iPad mini with its eye-catching redesign, I've often asked myself one question: “How fast do I want my little tablet to be, and how far should I reach for it in my wallet?” Yes, it is small. An almost perfect size for reading e-books. Maybe watch some video and some casual games. The build quality is also surprisingly good.
In Apple's ad and some nicely shot standalone videos, it looks like a great device to put on your desk or shelf. Perhaps also as a secondary screen to control music playback or smart home devices. But spending half a million on that kind of utility has never made sense to me.
Some would say it's a perfect little device for drawing and taking notes. Once again, it's too much to pay for a digital notebook, especially when you pay dearly for that white pen. Or, in this case, $129 for the Apple Pencil Professional.
Or you could get one of Boox's fantastic e-ink tablets (color or monochrome), which are almost half as thin, feel fantastic to write on, and cost a lot less. Or get the Remarkable Pro, if you're that serious about note-taking, and get a free pen while you're at it.
The disadvantages of a small whiteboard
When it comes to creative work, I'm not sure how many people opt for the iPad mini as a serious work machine. Maybe, as a provisional list on the fly. Or perhaps an enthusiast hoping to get familiar with tools like Procreate before jumping to something like the iPad Air or Pro.
Earlier this year, while testing a Wacom tablet with a 13-inch OLED display, I asked architects and fashion designers about their opinion on the slim board. They loved the sleek machine, but said it's still not the best size for serious drawing or illustration work.
The iPad mini offers a considerably smaller 8.3-inch screen and a much less attractive LCD panel. The panel is identical to its predecessor, which in itself was not really a benchmark in the category. Admittedly, the screen was sharp and contrasty, but not particularly bright.
“I constantly have to use the iPad mini at maximum or near maximum brightness just to work with it on a daily basis, and I'm sure that negatively affects its battery life,” said Digital Trends review of the 2021 iPad mini. Apple does not has made no changes in that department for the seventh-generation iteration. I won't be digging up jelly roll demons starting in 2021.
Battery life is purely subjective as far as the mini tablet is concerned. In my case, I typically spent an entire day with the 2021 model. But my use case scenario was “conditional” at best. A little reading, a couple of short OSINT lessons, and checking emails.
I won't call it demanding by any means. I tried to work on the 6th generation iPad mini. And by work, I mean my daily routine, which would otherwise require my $500 OnePlus Pad 2 to take care of. It wasn't great.
I started looking for a keyboard accessory because Apple doesn't make one for the iPad mini. I purchased the well-received HOU keyboard folio for just $50, but I really missed the convenience of a trackpad. Despite my best attempts, the keyboard layout proved too cramped to get through a draft.
I've seen some people editing videos on the iPad mini. I tried, but I couldn't stand the constant squinting at the screen. I simply can't imagine managing a timeline with even half a dozen AV effects interspersed across an 8-inch panel.
Casual tools like Capcut? Maybe. Something like LumaFusion? Hell no! It is curious that the processor can handle short videos with ease. With the iPad mini 2024, I don't see the story changing.
Once again, you get a processor that would top the benchmark charts, but is drastically held back by the size of the screen. And while you press it, the battery will drain too quickly for your liking.
I can confidently predict that fate after spending a few months with DaVinci Resolve and LumaFusion on the 13-inch iPad Pro with M4 silicon. And yes, it definitely hurt to hand over the 2021 iPad mini to my sister, less because I was feeling generous and more out of pure frustration.
Reaching for the future, with the demons of the past
I don't see how the 2024 iPad mini will change any of that. Silicon is fast. I think it goes toe-to-toe with the best that Android has to offer. I'm just not sure what I'll get from all that firepower. Prepared for the future? Certainly.
Then comes the question of Apple Intelligence, which many see as the Trojan horse that would redefine the iOS and iPadOS experience. So far, that hasn't happened in the small capacity that Apple Intelligence has come to.
In 2025, the AI toolset is expected to take its final form, with all the fancy details such as ChatGPT integration. So you're basically accepting the promise of features in the future, but receiving proof of payment before Christmas arrives this year.
Functionally, however, I don't see how Apple Intelligence will have any practical impact. Priority and summary notifications, voice transcription in Notes and smart reply? Well, its impact depends on how many “work” apps you have running on the little tablet.
Image Playground and Text-to-Image Genmojis? Not exactly smart features, I'd say. Also, I don't know many people who are excited about a more conversational Siri and look forward to using it more often because it's a little more talkative now.
It's a divisive concept.
Curiously, despite all its drawbacks, there is an audience willing to enjoy the iPad mini. He has a legion of fervent followers. Most of them love its small size, and this little tablet simply serves any purpose it provides.
I'm just not sure the 2024 iPad mini offers anything meaningful for that audience, or for those still sticking to the previous version with bezels as thick as a cocktail sausage. Why run to the nearest Apple Store to buy a new one when the old horse is still kicking and galloping?
If I had the choice, I'd rather splurge on a used or refurbished 6th generation iPad mini and save some money to spend on an Apple Pencil to go with it. Version 2024 does not address any issues associated with its predecessor.
Unless you've been waiting for an update, the 2024 update won't blow you away. It's simply the same car with a faster engine, with all of its predecessor's flaws still present. If you're okay in the driver's seat, we salute you. Otherwise, be patient or look elsewhere.