Apple surprised everyone yesterday by unveiling an updated iPad mini. What was equally surprising was the package itself. It sports the same shape and appearance, but has been dyed in some new colors and boasts the power of the A17 Pro chip to enable Apple Intelligence.
The company says in its press release, “Designed specifically for Apple Intelligence.” The tablet’s 8.3-inch screen is now Apple Pencil Pro supported, offering tricks like pressure sensitivity for note-taking, shading, barrel rolling, touchback feedback, and palm rejection.
The asking price remains at $500 for the Wi-Fi variant, while the cellular version will cost you $649. Fortunately, the base storage capacity is now 128GB, not 64GB. This is the end of the upgrade story, leaving me puzzled about the purpose of the new iPad mini – and who should buy it.
The new iPad mini doesn’t fit anything
Too late, this also means that the iPad mini does not improve on any meaningful aspects that hindered its predecessor. Ever since Apple introduced the sixth generation of the iPad mini with its dazzling redesign, I often found myself asking, “What speed do I want my small tablet to reach, and how deep should I dig into my wallet for it?” Yes, it is small. Almost the perfect size for e-book reading. Maybe a bit of video watching and some casual gaming. The build quality is also stunning.
In Apple’s ad and some well-shot independent videos, it looks like a great device to put on a desk or shelf. Maybe as a secondary screen for controlling music playback or smart home devices as well. But spending half a grand on this kind of utility was not logical for me.
Some may say it’s a perfect small device for drawing and note-taking. Again, this is a hefty sum to obtain a digital tablet, especially when you pay dearly for this white stylus. Or, in this case, $129 for the Apple Pencil Pro.
Or you can get one of the amazing E Ink tablets (colored or monochrome) from Boox, which are about half the size and give you a great feeling to write on, at a much lower cost. Or get the Remarkable Pro if you’re serious about note-taking and get a free pen while doing so.
Cons list is small
When it comes to creative work, I’m not sure how many people prefer the iPad mini as a serious workhorse. Perhaps, as a temporary list to fill the gap. Or maybe one of the enthusiasts hoping to learn tools like Procreate before upgrading to something like the iPad Air or Pro.
Earlier this year, while testing Wacom’s 13-inch OLED tablet, I asked architects and fashion designers their thoughts on the slim panel. They loved the sleek machine but said it was still not the best size for serious drawing or illustrative work.
The iPad mini offers a much smaller 8.3-inch screen and a much less attractive LCD panel. The panel matches its predecessor, which was not a standard bearer in this category itself. The screen was sharp and contrasted but not particularly bright.
Digital Trends’ review of the 2021 iPad mini said, “I always have to run the iPad mini at or close to maximum brightness just to work comfortably with it on a daily basis, and I’m sure that negatively impacts the battery life.” Apple hasn’t made any changes in this area to repeat the seventh generation. I won’t be delving into the demons of jelly rolls as of 2021.
Battery life is entirely personal when it comes to a small tablet. For me, I would regularly spend a full day with the 2021 model. But my usage scenario was “conditional” in the best case. A little reading, two short OSINT lessons, and checking emails.
I wouldn’t call it demanding by any means. I tried working on the sixth generation iPad mini. And by work, I mean the daily routine I would ask a $500 OnePlus Pad 2 device to handle. It wasn’t great.
I started looking for a keyboard attachment because Apple doesn’t make an attachment for the iPad mini. I got an HOU keyboard case that was widely praised for $50, but I sorely missed the trackpad comfort. Despite my best efforts, the keyboard layout proved to be too cramped to be draftable.
I’ve seen some people editing videos on the iPad mini. I tried that, but I couldn’t handle the constant screen glare. I can’t imagine dealing with a timeline even with six audio and visual effects punctuated on an 8-inch screen.
Ordinary tools like Capcut? Maybe. Something like LumaFusion? Hell no! And it’s funny that the processor can handle short videos easily. With the 2024 iPad mini, I don’t see the story changing.
Again, you get a processor that smokes standard charts but is greatly hindered by the screen size. And as you push it, the battery will drain very quickly as per your desire.
I can confidently predict this fate after spending a few months with DaVinci Resolve and LumaFusion on a 13-inch iPad Pro with an M4 chip. And yes, it was definitely painful handing over the 2021 iPad mini to my sister, not because I felt generous but because of the extreme frustration.
Heading into the future, with demons of the past
I don’t see how the 2024 iPad mini will change any of that. The silicon is fast. I believe it matches the best of what Android has to offer. I’m not sure what I’ll get from all this firepower. Checking into the future? Definitely.
Then there’s the issue of Apple Intelligence, which many consider to be a Trojan horse that will redefine the iOS and iPadOS experience. So far, this hasn’t happened no matter how much apple pie Apple Intelligence capabilities have reached.
In 2025, the full suite of artificial intelligence tools is expected to take its final form, with all the great features like ChatGPT integration. So, you are basically buying the promise of future features, but getting the payment voucher before this year’s Christmas.
However, functionally, I don’t see how Apple Intelligence will have any practical impact. Priority and summarized notifications, audio copy in Notes, and smart replies? Well, it depends on how many “work” apps you run on the small tablet.
The photo playground and Genmojis text-to-image conversion? I wouldn’t say these are intelligent features at all. And I don’t know many people excited to use a more conversational Siri and eagerly looking forward to using it more often because it is now a bit more chatty.
It’s a controversial concept
Interestingly, despite all its flaws, there is a ready audience to enjoy the iPad mini. It has a large following of enthusiastic fans. Most of them adore its small form factor, and this tiny tablet suits them just fine for whatever utility it offers.
I’m not sure if the 2024 iPad mini offers anything meaningful for this audience – or for those who still cling to the older thick-framed version like cocktail sausages. Why rush to the nearest Apple store to buy the new store when the old horse is still kicking and running?’
Given the choice, I’d rather spend my money on a used or refurbished sixth-generation iPad mini and save some cash to spend on the Apple Pencil to accompany it. The 2024 version doesn’t solve any problems associated with its predecessor.
Unless you’re eagerly anticipating the update, the 2024 update won’t dazzle you. It’s the same car with a faster engine, with all its previous flaws still in tow. If you’re fine in this driver’s seat, kudos to you. For the rest, brace yourself or look elsewhere.
