Read our full iPad mini review.
Tablets are incredibly versatile devices, but we all have our go-to uses. If you, like me, use your iPad for reading, you should go for the iPad mini. Some models, like the iPad Air, start at around 11 inches, which is plenty of screen if you want to flip through your book.
But the iPad mini isn’t just a glorified e-reader; it’s still a multitasking tablet. Like any iPad, you can read on it, but you can also stream your favorite shows – a level of flexibility that the Kindle can’t match.
So when should you avoid the iPad mini? If you’re looking for a tablet that can double as a laptop, this won’t be for you. Eight inches may have plenty of room for reading or viewing, but it will feel small if you want to switch between email and Slack. As Mashable’s Stan Schroeder noted in his review, when pitted against his M1 MacBook Pro, the iPad mini 7th generation didn’t stand a chance. Also, it’s not compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, but you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard for free.
The iPad mini received the 2024 upgrade and is now equipped with an A17 chip, but with a 5-core GPU and a 6-core CPU. Along with the chip upgrade comes Apple Intelligence, a very useful feature if you plan to use it for reading, as it can summarize articles.
It is more advanced in some ways than the iPad 11 generation. But on the other hand, it lacks important features such as the panoramic camera and compatibility with the magic keyboard. Taking all that into account, it’s clear that the iPad mini is a great tablet, while other iPads in Apple’s lineup can be great tablets. again laptops.
Most of all, I love the iPad mini for reading. Earlier, I read about my iPad 9th Generation, which works well, but is too big. When I’m reading in bed, my wrist feels like a drag on a regular-sized iPad. So when I switched to using the iPad mini, I was pleased with its light weight; it weighs just over half a pound. At 8.3 inches, it’s about an inch and a half larger than the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but if you’ve used both, the hand feel doesn’t work.
And, unlike the iPad 11 generation, it has an anti-reflective coating to help you read in any light. The iPad mini, although great for reading, doesn’t have the matte screen of other e-readers, which at night can lead to eye strain. If you want to give your iPad mini the Kindle treatment, these Paper-like screen protectors add nice friction to the screen so you feel like you’re reading and writing on paper.
The smaller size of the iPad mini also makes it a better option for traveling. It will take up less space and weight in your bag than any other iPad on this list. Despite being smaller than the iPad 11 generation, it costs more. So what are you paying for? More advanced technology, easier portability, and a better learning experience.
