iPad mini (2021) Review: Fun Size

By Alex Choros

Last updated 22 September 2021

iPad mini (2021) Review: The Verdict

The new iPad mini is a great pick if you're looking for a tablet that isn't trying to replace your laptop. It's as full featured as any iPad, but its smaller stature makes it a better choice if you're also carrying around a computer and phone.

What we love

Great size
Powerful
A bit adorable

What could be improved

Pricier than the previous model
Expensive accessories

85/100

From $749

When it comes to candy, "fun size" is the greatest lie ever told. There is nothing "fun" about getting an offensively small 16 gram Mars bar instead of a full one. You're getting short-changed. You miss out on those precious extra bites. Even if you get an entire bag, you just run the risk of eating too many, and that certainly isn't going to be fun in a few hours. Big Chocolate needs to cut the crap; making candy small makes it less fun.

The opposite, however, is true when it comes to the new iPad mini. Thanks to its smaller size, the iPad mini sheds the pretence of being a productivity device, at least in the traditional sense. It's not trying to replace your laptop. It's not designed to shift through spreadsheets. It's a Tablet with a capital T and that lends itself to far more enjoyable use cases.

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A little treat

The new iPad mini is Apple's first pintsized tablet in about two-and-a-half years, and its first major redesign, in well, ever. Until now, the iPad mini has looked almost the same across its first five generations, starting in 2012. There have been minor changes, but the overall appearance was all but identical. Almost a decade later, the 6th generation iPad mini takes the design into a new era.

Taking cues from the most recent iPad Pro and iPad Air, the new iPad mini now uses Apple's "all screen" design. It's roughly the same size as previous mini, but bezels have been reduced and the screen has grown from 7.9-inch to 8.3-inch. The fingerprint reader has been moved into the power button, and the Lightning port has been swapped out for a USB C connector. It supports the 2nd generation Apple Pencil. It's a modern iPad through and through. Just small.

The iPad mini's smaller stature makes it feel more like a companion device. It isn't trying to replace your laptop, instead fulfilling a different purpose. It's great for web browsing, notetaking or drawing (especially with the Apple Pencil), gaming, streaming, reading ebooks and more. Sure, your phone and laptop can also do any of the aforementioned, but the iPad mini often does a better job.

I'd prefer to read my ebooks on an iPad mini rather than on my phone. Streaming Netflix on the go is a simpler experience on an iPad mini than dealing with a laptop. You don't have to worry about draining your phone or laptop battery if you're using your iPad mini for gaming.

The 8.3-inch screen is still more than substantial enough for many of the creative apps the iPad ecosystem is known for. Lightroom, GarageBand, and Procreate don't feel cramped on the iPad mini. A bigger screen can naturally do wonders if you're editing photos or drawing, but the iPad mini's screen still does the trick.

Of course, the iPad mini has some limits. An 8.3-inch display simply isn't quite enough for multi-tasking. Running two apps side-by-side is rather cramped, especially if you try and bring up the keyboard at the same time. You're not really going to want to use it as a secondary display for a MacBook. It will work in a pinch, however.

Sweet, sweet power

Despite the smaller form-factor, Apple hasn't compromised when it comes to hardware. The new iPad mini is powered by the same A15 processor you'll find in the iPhone 13 Pro, and there's even 5G connectivity. It's a reliably fast and smooth experience. Battery life is however the standard "up to ten hours per charge", which seems reasonably accurate from my testing.

There's a single 12MP camera on the back, which is mostly a token inclusion. It takes a good enough photo in a well-lit environment, but quality degrades significantly in the dark. It's a step down from even the iPhone SE. The front-facing camera is also a 12MP lens, and features Apple's Centre Stage software that can adjust your frame based on the number of people in the shot or if you move around. It's a neat trick.

The fact the iPad mini is such a beastly device in terms of specs makes it one of a kind. Mini-but-mighty Android tablets have gone the way of the dodo; your options are getting a larger more powerful option, or a budget pick with a small screen and much less grunt.

While I appreciate that Apple didn't compromise on power, I almost would have liked to see Apple stick with last year's A14 processor (found in the iPad Air and iPhone 12) to bring the price down just a touch. Side-by-side, it's hard to spot the difference between the new iPad mini and the iPad Air in day-to-day usage.

Starting at $749, the iPad mini is Apple's most expensive tiny tablet to date. It's as full featured as any iPad, but it feels just a touch too expensive - depending on your use case. On one hand, it's the cheapest "modern" iPad in the range, which is great if you're looking for a powerful tablet to use on the go for apps like Lightroom or if you love drawing in Procreate and want the benefit of the 2nd generation Apple Pencil. On the other, $749 for a companion device to your phone and laptop can be a little harder to justify. After all, for many, an iPad isn't really doing anything your phone and laptop can't, it just does it better. It's fundamentally a luxury. You certainly don't need an iPad mini, but that doesn't mean it isn't nice to have.

The pricing gets even tougher to swallow when you factor in accessories. A 2nd generation Apple Pencil still goes for $199, and a Smart Folio cover will set you back $95. And if you're planning on getting the Apple Pencil, you'll probably want the Folio to go with it (or a third-party case). The Folio evens out the iPad mini's camera bump, which prevents it from sitting flat when you're resting it on a desk. If you try to write or draw on the iPad mini without a case, there's a noticeable amount of wobble.

iPad mini (2021) - Final Thoughts

"Less is more" may not be the case with the chocolate industry, but it's a ribbon you can comfortably wrap around the new iPad mini. It's an excellent tablet that doesn't strive to be more than a tablet, and is better for it. It's the kind of tablet I wouldn't mind throwing in my bag alongside my laptop, which isn't consistently the case with the iPad Air or iPad Pro. A middle screen for when neither the smaller screen nor bigger screen don't quite do the trick. While the concept of a middle screen is fundamentally a luxury, the iPad mini makes a damn good one. And it's just a bit adorable, hey?