I love small iPads! : IPad mini review

The latest technology hidden in a small skeleton.

Over the last few years, Apple has emphasized how tablet devices can replace laptops through a product called the iPad.

If you use an iPad, you can use it by connecting a mouse, trackpad, keyboard, etc. via Bluetooth. With iPadOS, you can multitask while using multiple apps together.

That said, the days when iPads surpass laptops are still far away (there is a considerable difference in usability even with a single file management system ...), but the latest iPads are closer to Macs than ever before. ..

Small iPad Air?

Therefore, the iPad mini has re-appeared in this product lineup.

I wasn't attracted to the mini so far because it was so small. I use my laptop to work and my Kindle to read ebooks. I've been using a tablet that's about the size of a computer and a Kindle to watch TV or the web while chilling out at home or traveling.

When I first saw Apple's brand new iPad mini, the impression was "a tiny iPad Air!". I also thought, "Cute!" The display size is 8.3 inches, and I personally think it's not small enough to be pocketable, but it's still much lighter and easier to carry than the 10.9-inch iPad Air and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Then, I suddenly came up with such a question. What was this iPad mini made for?

This is a buy

With the recent growth of smartphones, the 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max is also available, which is only 1.5 inches smaller than the iPad mini. A huge folding smartphone like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3 will expand the display to 7.6 inches when you open it.

However, it seems that folding smartphones are not generally accepted yet. Perhaps price and durability concerns are related. If so, most people continue to use smaller display models than the latest iPhone 13 Pro Max. The display size of both iPhone SE and iPhone 8 is 4.7 inches. The iPhone 12 Pro I'm using now is 6.1 inches, so it's definitely smaller than the new iPad mini.

The impression that I have been using the iPad mini for a week while thinking about various things is "I bought this." I fell in love with it for the simple reason that it was nothing more than what was required of an iPad. In the first place, it's best to be completely relieved of the pressure of having to work while using this!

Apple iPad Mini (2021)

What is this? : The smallest iPad in Apple's history with a completely redesigned design. Price: From $ 499 (Japanese domestic price 59,800 yen). Favorite place: Beautiful new design. Light and easy to carry. The size of the display is perfect for reading and playing games. Powerful performance. Battery life is reliable, and even 5G can be connected. What I don't like: I can't use the multitasking feature because the display is small.

Power up both the outside and the inside

The new iPad mini is a device that doesn't look like the 5th generation iPad mini that debuted in 2019. It costs $ 400, the processor is an A12 Bionic, and the display is 7.9 inches with a thick notch with a home button. The scent of the low-priced iPad was drifting.

On the other hand, the new 6th generation iPad mini has been redesigned to be mistaken for a miniaturized iPad Air, boasting a high-resolution display that is 6.3 mm thin and 8.3 inches in size. Like the Air for $ 599 (Japanese domestic price of 69,080 yen), the sides are flat and the back is finished in matt aluminum specifications.

The top button, which is located in the upper right when held vertically or in the upper left when held horizontally, has a Touch ID sensor for fingerprint authentication. The usage is the same as the iPad Air, and although it is a little difficult at first, it is quick and convenient once you get used to it. It may have a notch, but it's not as annoying as the ones on all generations, and it's almost the same as the Air one.

Innovative front camera

The similarities between the iPad Air and iPad mini are both equipped with a 12-megapixel main camera. However, the iPad mini is also equipped with an ultra-wide-angle front camera (effective field of view is 122 degrees) comparable to the iPad Pro (2021) series, and also supports the new center frame function. I tried using the FaceTime app while walking around with the iPad mini in the vertical direction, and it was pretty good.

However, I think it would be better to put the iPad Pro sideways on the kitchen counter and have a video chat. By the way, the iPad Air doesn't have this new ultra-wide-angle front camera or center frame feature.

Equipped with the latest and fastest SoC chips

The iPad mini's processor is Apple's A15 Bionic, newer than the iPad Air's A14 Bionic. Speaking of A15, it is a chip that is also installed in iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, and it consists of a 6-core CPU, a 5-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine.

Benchmark tests we conducted showed higher performance than Air. In addition, the 6th generation mini has a 40% faster CPU and 80% faster GPU than the 5th generation mini.

The mini has finally graduated from Lightning Cable and is now compatible with USB-C. With this, you can connect to various peripheral devices. Apple Pencil is now compatible with the 1st to 2nd generation. The pencil is attached to the side of the iPad mini with a magnet, so you don't have to worry about storing it.

Also, there is a cellular model that supports 5G (although it doesn't seem to be messed up because it can only use the frequency band below 6GHz).

Looking at the specs like this, the iPad mini is a small work tablet with A15 Bionic chip installed, USB-C connection, 5G compatible, ultra wide angle front camera, compatible with 2nd generation Apple Pencil. Is it? You might think that, but it's not. It's better than that.

A tablet that frees the user

The size and specifications of tablet terminals are improving year by year. Apple is still leading the way, and as a result of installing the M1 system-on-chip installed in the latest MacBook Pro and iMac on the iPad Pro, it has become a wonderful hybrid of tablet and PC. .. If you combine the iPad Air with Apple's magic keyboard, your work will be quicker.

However, the iPad mini doesn't work as a substitute for a computer, and I'm not trying to do it. The mini is perfect for e-readers, notebooks for writing notes, nimble game consoles, or smart displays that you can take anywhere. The iPad mini is just an iPad. It gives us freedom to use because we are not required to do anything more than the iPad.

I use the iPad mini mainly at night, chilling out in bed before going to bed. I wander around the internet, read ebooks on the Libby and Kindle apps, watch YouTube videos and TV shows, and create a to-do list for the next day. Even if you paddle the boat on the way and the iPad mini falls on your face, the damage is much lighter than the iPad Pro.

Great for e-readers!

The iPad mini's display is the perfect size for reading ebooks, giving you a much more natural experience than reading on a larger iPad or smaller iPhone. That's exactly why I still have a 7-year-old Kindle device, because the display size is just right. But lately, I wasn't even able to charge it, so I was wondering whether to buy a new e-reader or a more versatile device, but the iPad mini is exactly the latter.

Like the iPad before the mini, the mini is also very portable, and it supports 5G and eSIM, so it's perfect for going out. Just the other day, I put a 5G compatible model iPad mini in my handbag and went out for a little drive. I was able to read books in the passenger seat, watch Twitter, reply to emails, and perform various tasks. Besides, for example, if you download Netflix dramas, Spotify playlists, ebooks, etc. in advance before boarding an airplane, you can enjoy it while traveling.

Frees you from the curse of "work anytime, anywhere"

So, the important point from here. The iPad mini's display is too small to do a full-fledged job, but that's good.

When I reviewed other iPad models, I launched the workflow tool "Airtable" used by Gizmodo in the US, but this time I didn't even do that. If urgent work comes in, can mini handle it? Of course you can. If you want to do it on your iPhone, you can do it.

But then, if you want to occupy the taste with mini and support it next time, you probably won't. I could have written this article on the iPad as it was when I reviewed other iPads, but I didn't do that. That's why the iPad mini is the best.

The appeal of the iPad mini before the 6th generation was mainly limited to its portability. While retaining its advantages, this mini isn't just a tiny iPad. Performance has improved dramatically.

After all, when the A15 Bionic chip is installed in the processor, it far exceeds the performance of the 5th generation A12 Bionic chip, and it is comparable to the benchmark of the 4th generation iPad Air equipped with the A14 Bionic. When I measured the overall system performance with Geekbench 5, the mini score was 4610, while the Air score was 4264. Regarding GPU performance, the Metal score of Geekbench 5 was 13685 for mini and 12631 for Air (the GPU of mini has 5 cores, so that may have an effect).

The only time Air beat the mini was the continuous video playback time, which was 10 hours and 5 minutes compared to 10 hours and 40 minutes. But that's right, because Air has a larger battery because it has a larger skeleton.

Not good place

You might think that the iPad mini isn't suitable for work, but I'm just wondering if the iPad mini has the right keyboard case. The iPad Air and iPad Pro work perfectly with Apple's magic keyboard, and it's useful if you just want to do a little work with the iPad mini, right?

Logitech has a Bluetooth keyboard with a cradle, but it's not as convenient as a keyboard case. That said, it's not fun to type emails while hitting the virtual keyboard on your tablet.

Also, people who really want to multitask on the iPad mini. Unfortunately, the display is too small to recommend. With other iPads, you can use Split View to operate multiple apps at the same time. For example, you can open a browser to plan a trip and at the same time compose an invitation email to your friends, but the iPad mini doesn't have enough display area to comfortably use Split View. That's why I end up going back and forth between apps, but it may be a matter of familiarity because it's just used differently from other larger iPads.

So should I buy it after all?

If you already have an iPad mini, it's clear that you should replace it with a new iPad mini. The little iPad you love has evolved dramatically in terms of performance while remaining small, and the design has been updated freshly.

If your iPad is bigger, like a Pro or Air ... you probably won't buy a mini right now (if you want a smaller, cute iPad, don't hesitate!).

If you have a huge smartphone, you probably don't need a mini. The new iPad mini is really good ... it's really good, but it still starts at 55,400 yen. The price has been raised by about $ 100 from the previous generation. Of course, the 9th generation iPad from $ 329 (Japanese domestic price 39,800 yen) is affordable because you can buy a display larger than the mini at a cheaper price than the mini, but this is the innovative mini. It doesn't have many of the features.

If you don't want your tablet to have functionality other than a tablet, we recommend the iPad mini. It's convenient for reading e-books, and it's the most fun as a handy tablet device (other than Instagram) that allows you to operate your favorite apps anytime, anywhere.

Reference: Apple