iPad Expert: Why the Mini is My Top Pick (And It’s $100 Off)
▼ Summary
– The iPad Mini 7 is compact and portable, making it easy to carry in bags and purses without adding significant weight.
– It is primarily suited for entertainment purposes like gaming and media consumption rather than intensive work tasks.
– The device features the A17 Pro chip and supports Apple Intelligence, but its AI capabilities are still unpolished and underdeveloped.
– It is not recommended as a significant upgrade for iPad Mini 6 users and has limitations like a 60Hz display.
– The iPad Mini 7 is best purchased as a future-proof entertainment tablet rather than for its current AI features or productivity capabilities.
Finding the perfect balance between portability and performance in a tablet can feel like an impossible task, but the iPad Mini 7 manages to strike that chord beautifully. This compact device has completely reshaped my perspective on what a small tablet can accomplish. While I was initially skeptical, favoring larger screens, the Mini’s ability to slip effortlessly into any bag without adding noticeable weight has made it my constant companion.
My daily routine now frequently includes the iPad Mini 7, especially during situations where I need entertainment on the go. It proved invaluable during lengthy medical appointments, providing hours of distraction without the bulk of a larger device. Its primary strength lies in being an exceptional media consumption and gaming device, offering a powerful and immersive experience in a highly portable form factor.
However, it’s important to understand its limitations. This is not the ideal machine for a power user or someone who needs a primary device for remote work. I find it significantly easier to complete serious tasks, like photo editing or document writing, on my more affordable 10th-generation iPad. The larger screen of that model provides the necessary real estate, and it pairs seamlessly with a wide array of trusted keyboard accessories. That said, the 10th-gen model lacks support for the advanced Apple Pencil Pro and the new suite of Apple Intelligence features, both of which the Mini 7 supports.
Under the hood, the iPad Mini 7 is equipped with the robust A17 Pro chip, the same processor that drives the iPhone 15 Pro models. This ensures snappy performance and future-proofs the device for years to come. I’ve been able to test various Apple Intelligence capabilities since the rollout of iPadOS 18.1, which introduced tools like Writing Tools, a redesigned Siri, and the handy Clean Up tool in Photos. While functional, my experience with these generative AI features has been somewhat underwhelming. As a daily user of other AI platforms, I find Apple’s offerings still require further refinement to feel truly polished and indispensable.
Consequently, I would not advise anyone to purchase the iPad Mini 7 solely for its AI capabilities. Instead, I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone seeking a supremely portable and future-proof entertainment tablet. It excels at playing games, watching videos, and reading ebooks, all while being incredibly easy to carry. It also handles quick work tasks, such as editing a short video in CapCut or tweaking a social media post, with impressive speed.
Apple is clearly betting big on Apple Intelligence as a cornerstone of its future, but the current execution involves some growing pains. My advice is to buy the iPad Mini 7 for the excellent entertainment device it is today, not for the AI-powered promise of what it might become. If your needs lean more toward heavy productivity and you require a larger canvas, your money is likely better spent on a different model in Apple’s lineup.
(Source: ZDNET)
