If you're in the market for an iPad, you've got a pretty tough decision on your hands. I feel for you, really I do, because there's a lot of choice and all of the iPad options are ultimately excellent tablets. There's something quite special about the iPad mini though.
On paper, it is most definitely not the best option. There's the iPad (10th generation) at a much cheaper price point, while the latest iPad Air and iPad Pro both offer a considerable amount of power and larger display sizes, making them perfect for working on the move as well as watching content.
Why then, would you opt for the small and dainty iPad mini with its 8.3-inch screen that isn't all that much bigger than the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max? I'll tell you why. Because it is so ridiculously small and portable that you can take it anywhere.
Apple iPad Mini: At a glance
Pros
- Small and compact design
- Premium build quality
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor in power button
- Lovely and vibrant display
- Good performance
- Great battery life
- Easy to use
- Simple to set up
- Excellent weight balance
Cons
- Low base storage
- Expensive
- No Smart Connector
Key specifications
| Screen size | 8.3 inches |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 2266 x 1488 pixels |
| Software | iPadOS |
| Processor | A15 Bionic |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB |
| Cameras | 12MP wide rear, 12MP front |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours |
| Colours | Space Grey, Purple, Pink, Starlight |
Apple iPad Mini review
The slim, slender aluminium build offers the same level of quality as the rest of the iPad range, with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the power button, also like the rest of the iPads.
This not only means you get those lovely symmetrical bezels around the screen, but unlocking the iPad mini is nice and fluid and it's handy for auto-filling passwords and authenticating payments on Apple Pay too — it's almost too easy to spend money!
The colours are also gorgeous (my favourites are the pink and purple colourways), and the weight distribution is delightful, making the iPad mini better for browsing than a phone. This is due to the extra width, meaning it’s not as top-heavy as a phone so it's much nicer to hold, especially one-handed.
It has a low base storage, which is a factor to consider, as it is with the iPad (10th generation) too, and the processor that runs the iPad mini is certainly not the most powerful Apple offers these days.
That really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things though because for browsing, reading, watching content, looking at photos, or even catching up on emails and messages, the iPad mini will have no issues in terms of performance. That applies for those addictive games we all like to dabble in too.
Elsewhere, the screen is lovely and while the iPad (10th generation) has a larger display, there's a lot to be said for this miniature size. I encourage you to go to an Apple Store and try it out for yourself because once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down.
Like the iPad Air, there's an anti-reflective coating and a fully laminated display here too. What a laminated display means is the display panel (which in this case is LCD) is closer to the glass than you'll find on the iPad (10th generation), so colours appear brighter and more vibrant.
Meanwhile, the anti-reflective coating means the iPad mini can easily be used outside or near a window without too many reflections appearing — it might not seem like a big deal but this is a factor that makes quite a big difference in use.
I'd love to see a smart connector on the iPad mini to allow for a keyboard to be attached, just in case you want to dabble in the odd bit of work, and some extra base storage for that price wouldn't go amiss either. But they are minor issues really, and other than those, there really is very little to complain about with this iPad.
The battery life is around the same as the rest of the iPads, with up to 10 hours of use, and the iPad mini runs the same iPadOS software too, with features like Centre Stage that keep you in frame during video calls by following you around a room. The iPad mini is also compatible with the Apple Pencil USB-C, and it's great for taking notes. My go-to in fact.
Good Housekeeping’s verdict on the Apple iPad Mini
Look at the price and its specs and there's every reason not to buy the iPad mini, especially as it hasn't been updated in three years. But when it comes to experience, the iPad mini is one of my favourites out of the whole line up and I've used them all extensively.
It's very small, easy to use and set up, and offers a great software experience. It’s also wonderfully portable. If you're after a compact tablet, it's the best out there by a mile.
Britta O'Boyle has been a technology journalist since 2003. She's covered everything from phones, tablets and fitness devices, to smart home, and beauty tech. You’ll find her name on reviews, explainers, roundups and expert tips, covering Apple, Google, Samsung, Sonos, Dyson and many more.
She’s always tried to take a more simplified approach to products, focusing on what she thinks actually matters in use, rather than getting caught up in the jargon. She was one of the first journalists in the world to try Apple's Vision Pro headset, she's gone behind the scenes at Peloton and she can give you more than 40 fun facts about Mac.
Britta has a First Class Honours degree in Fashion Journalism from the University of the Arts London and prior to a 10-year stint as deputy editor of Pocket-lint from 2013 to 2023, she wrote about interiors for 3 years, covering the rise in technology in the home.
As a freelance journalist, she co-founded The Disconnekt and she’s Editor-at-Large for The Ambient. You’ll also find her byline on several prestigious titles including The Telegraph, British GQ, The Express, The Mirror, TechRadar, T3, Stuff, TechAdvisor, Trusted Reviews, Expert Reviews, Wareable and iMore.
She’s also been a guest on several radio stations, including BBC Radio, Siren FM and Academy FM, discussing features to implement on devices to keep children safer online. You'll never find her without her Apple Watch on (usually alongside another fitness tracker she’s testing), aiming to complete her rings so she can justify the extra bar of chocolate. When she’s not recording the dog walk as an Outdoor Walk, she’s trying to keep up with her two young children.
