Product test

The iPad Mini: how does it fare in a day-to-day test?

16.11.2022

Now that Apple has made some changes to its iPad family, the iPad Mini struggles to stand out from the crowd. I’m using this inconspicuous tablet for a few days to see if it can prove it has its place.

Until now, I’d hardly given the 2021 iPad Mini much thought. I mean, why would I? For doing the little everyday things, I’ve got a smartphone, and for bigger tasks, I use an 11-inch tablet – or my notebook. But when I have the little thing pressed into my hand, I’m unexpectedly delighted. It’s about the same size as my diary. And my sketch pad. I wonder what I can do with the thing.

Mini size

The iPad Mini is a tablet that’s still a tablet and doesn’t try to replace a notebook. It’s bigger than a smartphone and still sits comfortably in your hand. At 8.3 inches, the iPad is about the size of a paperback, and only 6 mm thick. The Apple A15 Bionic processor, which is also built into the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, provides more than enough performance. Meanwhile, it’s easy to use the floating touchscreen keyboard one-handed, even if you have small hands. If you want, you can also switch to the broad keyboard format. Unfortunately, this isn’t quite as accessible for me when I’m using both hands.

The iPad Mini hardly looks out of place in my pile of notebooks.

Let’s hear it for minimalism

I leave my sketch pad and book at home, as the iPad Mini can take on the job of both. Oh, and while I’m at it, I also use it as my diary. After all, the small tablet is the same size as all the books I’m replacing it with. However, I also need the second-generation Apple Pencil that’s compatible with the iPad. Compared with the Mini, my handwritten bullet journal boasts double pages. But it ends up being less flexible when I have to move appointments and notes about.

Coming in at around ten hours, the battery life is on a par with the iPad Mini’s bigger siblings. That means if I plan to use the iPad to replace three books, I can’t use it for too many hours in a day. For me, it’s a bit tedious.

The tablet acts as a replacement diary, but it needs a fair bit of power.

The tablet features a decent-sized sketch pad.

Mini console

The iPad Mini also boasts enough performance for gaming. Unlike the Mini’s big brothers and sisters, this device sits comfortably in my hand while I’m gaming. Even after longer sessions, the 300-gramme weight doesn’t feel too heavy. It’s certainly much more fun to play games such as Mario Kart and Diablo Immortal on this display size than on a smartphone.

For titles such as Mario Kart, the iPad Mini acts as a replacement handheld.

Mini workouts

Also known as «tabatas». This 4-minute workout is meant to get your circulation going. With the help of the tablet, finding one of their many videos on YouTube is quick work – and in a size that’s easy to follow. The Mini is loud enough to drown out the sound of my hopping about and asthma attack while I’m working out. Luckily, it’s almost Christmas, so I can snack on biscuits instead of exercising. I’m sure the tablet will show me a few tasty recipes.

Putting the iPad in front of your yoga mat takes seconds. If only the exercise that followed was as easy.

Not exactly a mini price

Is the iPad Mini also the cheapest? I wish I could say it was. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. This gem will set you back at least 500 francs or 600 euros. Then there’s the Apple Pencil you also have to factor in. And the case.

Coming in at just over 300 francs, the regular 2021 iPad is much cheaper. That being said, it’s not as well kitted out, and neither does it come with the bonus of being easy to use with one hand.

Unfortunately, the price tag is anything but mini.

Verdict: small, but mighty

To sum it up, the iPad Mini offers good hardware in the smallest package. The device is in no way inferior to its bigger siblings and outperforms them when it comes to ease of use. If you’re in the position where other tablets are too big to cart around everywhere but your smartphone is too small for everyday fun, the Mini is a good option.

However, something to be aware of is that the battery won’t cut it for long days. A look at the price tag quickly brings me back to reality. And as a result, also back to my sketch pads and notebooks.

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Michelle Brändle

Editor

Michelle.Braendle@digitecgalaxus.ch

In my world, Super Mario chases Stormtroopers with a unicorn and Harley Quinn mixes cocktails for Eddie and Peter at the beach bar. Wherever I can live out my creativity, my fingers tingle. Or maybe it's because nothing flows through my veins but chocolate, glitter and coffee.

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