Apple iPad mini review (2021): Proud to be a tablet

(Pocket-lint) - We've ever had a brushed spot for the iPad mini. Now successful its sixth iteration, the instrumentality has yet had a large overhaul - bringing it up to spec with the iPad Air and, to immoderate degree, the iPad Pro range.

But with a higher terms tag than earlier does the 2021 iPad mini inactive person a spot successful Apple's tablet line-up, and is its smaller-scale surface astatine likelihood with what astir radical volition privation for productivity? We've been utilizing the iPad mini (6th Gen) to find out...

Design and display 

• 8.3-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD display, 2266 x 1488 solution (326ppi), 60Hz
• Four colour options: Space Gray, Pink, Purple, Starlight
• Dimensions: 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3mm / Weight: 293g
• TouchID fingerprint scanner connected powerfulness button

Gone is the location button, the large bezel of iPads of yesteryear (excluding the caller Apple iPad 10.2 9th Gen), and the consciousness that the mini is immoderate benignant of mediocre forgotten cousin.

The 2021 iPad mini comes with a caller squarer design, akin to the iPad Air and iPad Pro models, a thinner uninterrupted achromatic bezel, and much colourful options - including Purple (more lavender), Pink (more faint rose), and Starlight (more achromatic gold). Like the iPad Air, a TouchID fingerprint sensor is hidden successful the powerfulness button.

• Apple iPad mini (6th gen) vs iPad mini (5th gen): What's the difference?

The measurement buttons person been moved to the apical of the tablet to marque mode for the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) to magnetically bolt onto the tablet's broadside erstwhile charging, though that does alteration the talker grille configuration somewhat - but it doesn't look to marque a quality successful audio performance. What it volition bash if you're a long-time iPad idiosyncratic is confuse your representation synapses erstwhile it comes to changing the measurement oregon grabbing a screenshot, but alternatively intuitively Apple automatically assigns the apical measurement fastener to beryllium 'up' careless of instrumentality orientation.

Unlike astir iPads there's nary Smart Connector for attaching a keyboard - we're not definite it would beryllium that comfy to usage anyhow astatine this standard - though those who bash privation to bash immoderate typing tin ever opt for a third-party carnal Bluetooth 'board instead.  

The size of the iPad mini is fractionally smaller than the erstwhile iPad mini - it's present conscionable somewhat longer than the Apple Pencil - contempt expanding its surface size by reducing the bezel surrounds. More importantly it's adjacent lighter than the erstwhile procreation (only by 17 grams - but it each counts).

The form-factor and value organisation is akin to an A5 Moleskin notebook oregon Amazon Kindle, which makes the iPad mini perfect for one-handed use, whether you're reading, watching, oregon sketching. That's not thing that tin beryllium said for the bigger 10.2-inch models and above.

The 8.3-inch screen, which is plentifulness crisp looking, comes with galore of Apple's surface technologies. When the surface is connected it's hard to spot fingerprints acknowledgment to an oleophobic coating; reflections are manageable - unless you are successful nonstop sunlight; positive there's True Tone and wide colour (P3) to assistance support colours punchy and accurate.

However, there's nary ProMotion, Apple's selling sanction for 120Hz surface refresh rate, which has been successful different iPad models since 2017. 

In usage and that 8.3-inch surface is great, conscionable the close size to bask a amusement connected Netflix, work a lengthy nonfiction connected the web, oregon doodle thing with the Apple Pencil.

At times the solution combined with the smaller surface tin marque for tiny buttons and touchpoints. And whilst changing the dynamic benignant settings tin assistance resoluteness this successful immoderate cases, galore apps - including Apple's ain - don't instrumentality those requests connected board.

Hardware

• 64GB/256GB retention sizes
• 5G & Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
• A15 Bionic processor
• USB Type-C

There's plentifulness of updates connected the hardware beforehand to get excited astir - and rightly so. The iPad mini comes with the aforesaid processor arsenic the iPhone 13 Pro, ensuring it's connected par with 2021's champion available. There's besides 5G and USB-C connectivity, arsenic good arsenic enactment for the Apple Pencil (2nd gen) which, arsenic we've already mentioned, bolts onto the broadside magnetically to link and charge.

All that powerfulness makes this tablet accelerated capable to load apps and games quickly, yet inactive negociate plentifulness of dense lifting with immoderate of the much demanding apps successful the App Store.

The USB-C makes connecting different devices similar SSD drives oregon a camera overmuch easier than having to transportation astir further dongles. It's thing we've enjoyed connected the iPad Pro implicit the past mates of years, truthful it's bully to yet spot it connected the mini.

What we would person liked to person seen, however, is the inclusion of FaceID facial designation for login, and MagSafe charging - a magnetically attached charging disc enactment - arsenic you'll find successful the iPhone range.

While MagSafe charging doesn't marque arsenic overmuch consciousness connected the larger iPads, it surely would for the mini, particularly if you privation to complaint and usage an accessory astatine the aforesaid time. This smaller form-factor is conscionable crying retired for immoderate signifier of wireless charging. Of people adding the MagSafe charger would mean moving to a solid alternatively than metallic back, which could impact the durability of this tablet, and is wherefore it's not a imaginable diagnostic successful this arrangement.

Cameras

• 12-megapixel rear camera, f/1.8 aperture, autofocus
• 12MP beforehand camera, f/2.4, 122-degree ultra-wide
• Center Stage support

Any tablet, including the iPad scope - unless you are talking iPad Pro level - person ne'er truly had the camera acquisition astatine the apical of their agenda. And that's conscionable good - due to the fact that we don't erstwhile we're utilizing a slate either.

This iPad mini changes that somewhat, however, taking a large leap guardant implicit what the erstwhile procreation devices offered. There's a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera connected the rear, susceptible of 4K video signaling up to 60fps, and extended dynamic scope for video up to 30fps - the aforesaid arsenic the iPad Air (2020) model, not arsenic almighty a combo arsenic connected the Pro range, but surely considerably much than the erstwhile 8-megapixel offering.

On the front, there's different 12-megapixel camera, but present it's ultra-wide - the aforesaid arsenic you'll find successful the iPad Pro exemplary - and supports 1080p video signaling up to 60fps. Like the iPad Pro it features Center Stage, which follows you astir the country erstwhile connected a video call. 

The caller wider camera is superb for fitting much into the framework erstwhile you're connected a telephone – useful if there's a fewer of you crowded astir the surface - and though we've been utilizing Center Stage connected the iPad Pro for a while, we inactive person mixed feelings astir it (because galore accidental it makes them consciousness 'seasick' erstwhile watching).

Pencil & Accessories

• 2nd procreation Apple Pencil support
• No Smart connector for keyboards
• No MagSafe charging

It's an optional extra, but the 2021 iPad mini supports Apple's second-generation Pencil stylus. It's responsive and the size of this caller tablet's surface makes for a large sketching publication - without being overly large.

With the immense improvements to iPadOS 15 - including features similar Scribble and Quick Notes - you tin easy spot this slate being the cleanable note-taking instrumentality for originative types.

Writing by Stuart Miles. Editing by Mike Lowe. Originally published connected 22 September 2021.