Apple iPad Mini Cellular (3GB + 256GB) Review | 168 Data compared

The Trusted Reviews assessment identifies the Apple iPad mini 7 (2024) as the top small tablet, featuring an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and a premium, lightweight aluminium build. Key improvements include the A17 Pro chip for enhanced performance and Apple Intelligence support, alongside compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro. While praised for its portability and display anti-reflective coating, the device is considered a minor spec-bump over its predecessor. Performance is a major focal point, with the upgrade to the A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM supporting hardware-accelerated ray tracing for high-end gaming. The device is well-suited fornote-taking, bolstered by the addition of haptic feedback and squeeze gestures from the Apple Pencil Pro. However, the tablet lacks Stage Manager for advanced multitasking. Trusted ReviewsThe review notes several drawbacks, primarily the retention of a 60Hz LCD panel, which lacks the 120Hz ProMotion or OLED contrast found in higher-end Apple devices. Additionally, the tablet is not compatible with the older Apple Pencil 2, requiring a new purchase.

The Independent's review characterizes the iPad mini 7 as a premium, highly portable device featuring a significant performance boost via the A17 Pro chip, enabling future Apple Intelligence features. Pros include an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with high pixel density, doubled 128GB base storage, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. Conversely, cons focus on the lack of a 120Hz ProMotion display, the continued presence of thick bezels, and the awkward placement of the selfie camera on the short edge.

The Telegraph rates the iPad mini (A17 Pro) an 8/10, highlighting its superb portability, faster processor, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro as key advantages. Pro-level performance for tasks like photo editing and a resolved "jelly scrolling" display issue make it a strong, compact option. However, the review notes cons including the lack of a 120Hz ProMotion display, outdated 60Hz LCD, and slow 20W charging speeds. The design remains identical to the 2021 model with thick bezels, and it lacks advanced multitasking features like Stage Manager. Ultimately, the review concludes that while it is the best small tablet on the market, it is best suited for casual use rather than a laptop replacement. The Telegraph

The Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) is identified as a "compact champion" in The Disconnekt's review, praised for its exceptional one-handed usability for tasks like browsing and note-taking. Powered by the A17 Pro chip, the device delivers significant performance upgrades, supporting Apple Intelligence and doubling base storage to 128GB, while maintaining a premium, lightweight design with an improved 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display. Key pros include the vibrant, anti-reflective display, "slick" performance, and the apparent resolution of the previous model's "jelly scrolling" issue. The DisconnektHowever, the review outlines key cons, notably the lack of a 120Hz ProMotion display, limiting it to 60Hz compared to Pro models. It is also criticized for lacking multi-user support, restricting its potential as a shared family tablet. Ultimately, due to its size and lack of a dedicated first-party keyboard, it is not recommended as a primary, on-the-go work machine.

The Tech Advisor review highlights the 2024 Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) as the premier compact tablet, driven by its 8GB RAM, Apple Intelligence support, and superior portability. Key performance upgrades include the powerful A17 Pro chip, doubled base storage (128GB), and compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro. Despite these, drawbacks include the lack of a 120Hz display (sticking with 60Hz), absence of Face ID, and slow charging speeds. Ultimately, it is recommended for users needing high-end power in a small form factor, while others may find better value in older or larger models.

The 2024 Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) is positioned by Digital Camera World as a powerful, ultra-portable device for creatives, featuring the A17 Pro chip for fast editing, a sharp Liquid Retina display, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro. It serves as a capable, compact companion for photographers, with USB-C enabling easy connectivity for workflows like on-location file management. While highly functional, the review notes the device is expensive for its size, lacks high refresh rate OLED display technology, and maintains an awkward front camera placement. Ultimately, its niche portability outweighs the limitation of a smaller screen for multitasking compared to larger alternatives. Digital Camera World

The Guardian's review describes the 2024 iPad mini (A17 Pro) as a "reinvigorated" small tablet that remains in a class of its own by maintaining an 8.3-inch design while delivering a 30% speed boost and 25% better graphics via the new chip. Key advantages include its highly portable, "almost pocketable" form factor, a crisp display, 10-hour battery life, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro and upcoming Apple Intelligence features. However, the review notes drawbacks such as the lack of a design overhaul, a high £499 starting price, the absence of M-series chips for advanced multitasking, and a front camera still placed awkwardly on the short edge. The Guardian

The 2024 Apple iPad mini (7th generation) is a compact powerhouse focusing on internal upgrades, featuring the A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM for a 30% CPU performance boost, which enables Apple Intelligence support and Apple Pencil Pro compatibility. While praised for its exceptional portability and fast USB-C connectivity, the tablet retains a dated, three-year-old design with significant bezels. Key drawbacks include the persistence of a 60Hz LCD screen with visible "jelly scrolling," the lack of waterproofing, and a selfie camera awkwardly positioned on the short edge.

Federico Viticci’s MacStories review positions the 2024 iPad mini as a "third place" device, balancing mobility with productivity as a "digital notebook" that supports Apple Pencil Pro and features a refined screen with reduced "jelly scrolling". While the A17 Pro chip enables high-end gaming and Apple Intelligence, the device is criticized for iPadOS failing to optimize UI for the smaller screen, resulting in awkward scaling and, due to the lack of an M-series chip, a lack of Stage Manager support. Ultimately, it is described as a highly capable, portable "companion" device rather than a primary workstation. Copy

The iPad Mini 7 is a "pocket powerhouse" with an A17 Pro chip, offering significant performance boosts for creative apps like GarageBand, while retaining a highly portable form factor. The review highlights increased base storage and Apple Pencil Pro compatibility as major pros, enhancing its versatility for, musicians and artists. Key drawbacks include incompatibility with the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, poor external screen capabilities, and a lack of Stage Manager support, making it a powerful yet minor, iterative update. Copy

The CNET review of the 2024 iPad Mini describes it as a modest update, maintaining the same design as the 2021 model while upgrading to the A17 Pro chip and increasing base storage to 128GB. Key pros highlighted include Apple Intelligence compatibility and support for the Apple Pencil Pro (squeeze and hover features), along with faster Wi-Fi 6E and USB-C data speeds. However, the device faces cons for retaining a 60Hz LCD, lacking an M-series chip, and omitting Pro-level features like a 120Hz refresh rate or landscape front camera. CNETWhile enabling AI, the A17 Pro chip limits the Mini, as it lacks the power for advanced multitasking features like Stage Manager found in the iPad Air or Pro. The review notes the current Apple Intelligence features are mostly basic, limiting the immediate value of the upgrade. CNET Copy

The TechRadar review deems the 2021 iPad mini the "best small tablet money can buy," praising its stylish, compact redesign, powerful A15 Bionic chipset, and the convenience of USB-C. It boasts a sharp 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with excellent portability, though it lacks 120Hz ProMotion and some users may experience a "jelly scrolling" effect in portrait mode. While offering 5G and useful Center Stage video calling, the device carries a higher price tag than its predecessors, and the roughly 8-10 hour battery life is serviceable rather than market-leading. Copy

The PCMag review characterizes the 2024 Apple iPad mini as a "compact powerhouse" that maintains its status as the premier small tablet, despite utilizing the same design as its 2021 predecessor. Internal upgrades, specifically the A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, provide essential support for Apple Intelligence and the Apple Pencil Pro, while the base storage has been doubled to 128GB. Key advantages include unmatched portability, a high-quality, fully laminated 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, and reliable 10-hour battery life. Performance is deemed highly capable for gaming, media consumption, and creative tasks, supported by improved connectivity through Wi-Fi 6E and a faster USB-C port. Conversely, the review cites the lack of external changes, the stagnant 60Hz refresh rate, and the awkward selfie camera placement on the short edge as primary drawbacks. The device also lacks Face ID, waterproofing, and Stage Manager support, prompting a recommendation that some users might prefer the standard iPad for better value.

The iMore review characterizes the iPad mini 5 (2019) as a "beastly" and highly portable "middle ground" device, driven by the powerful A12 Bionic chip and a high-quality, fully laminated 7.9-inch Retina display with True Tone. While the performance represents a massive jump over its predecessor, the design retains large bezels and a physical home button, appearing dated compared to modern alternatives. Key limitations include restricted compatibility with only the first-generation Apple Pencil and an older 8-megapixel rear camera. Ultimately, it is recommended for users prioritizing portability, reading, and sketching over cutting-edge design, serving as an ideal "digital field notes" device at a $399 starting price. For more details, visit iMore. Copy

The iPad mini is a premium, highly portable tablet featuring a bright, vibrant display and a durable, lightweight design suitable for extended use. Key advantages include robust battery life, Apple Pencil support, and swift performance for media consumption and note-taking. Conversely, the device carries a high price point, features dated, large bezels, and can experience minor performance drops during heavy multitasking. Copy

The Trusted Reviews analysis describes the iPad Mini 5 as a high-performance, portable tablet featuring the powerful A12 Bionic chipset and a 7.9-inch Retina display with True Tone, ideal for gaming and commuting. Despite this, the device retains a dated 2012 design with large bezels, while offering significant upgrades like first-generation Apple Pencil support, although the stylus charging method is considered awkward. Key pros include top-tier performance, excellent screen quality, and high portability, countered by cons such as the old aesthetic, mediocre cameras, slow charging, and limited 64GB base storage.

What Hi-Fi? describes the iPad Mini 6 (2021) as a compact, five-star device featuring a redesigned 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, USB-C connectivity, and Touch ID, offering a premium feel in a highly portable package. Performance is driven by the powerful A15 Bionic chip, which enables a "super-slick" experience for gaming, paired with impressive landscape stereo speakers that deliver wide, punchy audio for media consumption. Despite these strengths, the review notes the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, minor motion issues in specific scenes, and a higher price point that makes it a more extravagant choice compared to previous models. What Hi-Fi?

The iPad mini (6th Gen) is a pocket-sized powerhouse featuring a significant redesign with a 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, adopting the bezel-less aesthetic of the iPad Air/Pro. It weighs under 300g and offers extreme portability, making it a highly capable device for creative work, media consumption, and multitasking. Performance is driven by the A15 Bionic chip, enabling high-end gaming and 4K video editing, while key hardware improvements include a switch to USB-C and support for the second-generation Apple Pencil. The 12MP front camera with Center Stage offers a significant upgrade for video calls, and the device provides a very fast, responsive user experience overall. However, the smaller screen can feel cramped for extensive productivity tasks, and the battery life is weaker than other, larger iPads. The review notes a lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack and a 120Hz refresh rate, alongside a higher price point that may be prohibitive for some users.

The iPad mini A17 Pro (7th gen) features a significant performance boost with the A17 Pro chip, offering 30% faster CPU and 25% faster GPU speeds compared to its predecessor, alongside support for Apple Intelligence and hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Key pros include its ultra-portable design perfect for one-handed use, compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro, faster Wi-Fi 6E, a 10Gbps USB-C port, and a new 128GB base storage. However, the device lacks a 120Hz ProMotion display (remaining at 60Hz), does not have an official Magic Keyboard, and retains a portrait-oriented front camera, according to T3. T3