Read our full review of the iPad Mini.
Who it’s for:
If you want to use your tablet as just that, and one of your primary uses is for reading, go with the iPad Mini. The other iPad models start at 10.9 inches, which is a lot of screen when you just want to flip through your e-book. Speaking from experience, holding a 10.9-inch iPad feels more like holding up a magazine than a book, so at 8.3 inches, the iPad Mini is a more comfortable handle for readers. Plus, it has an anti-reflective coating to protect from glare.
The iPad Mini is not just a great e-reader, it’s also a versatile tablet. You can still use it to read with the Kindle App, but it also offers the added benefits of a tablet. Imagine reading mid-flight and then switching over to streaming your favorite show. This is a level of versatility that a standard e-reader simply can’t match.
So when should you avoid the iPad Mini? If you’re after a tablet that can double as a laptop, this won’t be for you. 8.3-inches might be plenty of room for reading or watching, but it’s going to feel tight when you want to flip between email and Slack. Plus, it’s not compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, but you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard in a pinch.
Why we picked this:
The iPad Mini exists in a weird plane in the iPad line-up. Loaded with an A15 chip and 5-core GPU, it’s more advanced in some ways than the iPad 10th generation. But on the flip side, it’s missing key features like a landscape view camera, headphone jack, and Magic Keyboard compatibility. When we calculate all that, it’s clear that the iPad Mini is a great tablet, while the rest of the iPads in Apple’s line-ups are capable of being great tablets and laptops.
Where we really like the iPad Mini is for reading. When you use an e-reader, you don’t want your wrists to get a workout, and the iPad Mini weighs just over half a pound while the rest of the iPads weigh twice that. Plus, the smaller screen size makes it more ergonomically comfortable to handle. At 8.3-inches it’s about an inch and a half bigger than a Kindle Paperwhite Signature. Plus, unlike the iPad 10th generation, it has an anti-reflective coating to help you read in any lighting.
The iPad Mini’s smaller size 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 10th generation, it costs more. So what are you paying for? Slightly more advanced tech, the convenience of portability and a better reading experience.
Mashable senior editor Stan Schroeder reviewed the iPad Mini and put it best: “If you value more screen real estate over portability, get something else. If it’s the other way around, the iPad mini is the best tablet you can get.”