Read our full iPad Mini review.
Target Audience:
If you want to use your tablet for reading, the iPad Mini is the way to go. Other iPad models start at 10.9 inches, which is too big for flipping through e-books. Speaking from experience, holding a 10.9-inch iPad feels more like holding a magazine than a book, so the 8.3-inch iPad Mini is more comfortable for reading. Plus, it has an anti-reflective coating to prevent glare.
The iPad Mini is not only a great e-reader, it’s also a feature-rich tablet. You can read with the Kindle app, but with the added benefits of a tablet. Imagine reading on a flight and then switching to streaming your favorite show. That’s a level of versatility that a standard e-reader just 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 isn’t the one for you. While 8.3 inches may be plenty of room for reading and watching, it’ll feel cramped for switching between email and Slack. And it’s not compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, though you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard in a pinch.
Reasons for choosing this:
The iPad Mini sits in a strange place in the iPad lineup: with its A15 chip and five-core GPU, it’s more advanced in some ways than the 10th generation iPad, but it’s missing some key features, like a landscape camera, a headphone jack, and compatibility with the Magic Keyboard. When you factor all of this in, it’s clear that the iPad Mini is a great tablet, and the other iPads in Apple’s lineup could be great tablets too. and laptop.
I especially love the iPad Mini for reading. You don’t want to strain your wrists when using an e-reader, but the iPad Mini weighs just over half a pound, compared to other iPads that are twice as heavy. Plus, the smaller screen size makes it more ergonomic to use; at 8.3 inches, it’s about 1.5 inches larger than the Kindle Paperwhite Signature. Plus, unlike the iPad 10th Gen, it has an anti-reflective coating, so you can read in any lighting.
The iPad Mini’s small size makes it perfect for traveling. It takes up less space and weight in your bag than any other iPad on this list. It’s smaller than the iPad 10th generation, but it’s more expensive. So what do you get for your money? A little more advanced technology, easier portability, and a better reading experience.
Mashable senior editor Stan Schroeder, reviewing the iPad Mini, put it aptly: “If you value screen real estate over portability, buy something else. If the opposite is true, the iPad mini is the best tablet you can get.”
