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After receiving the new iPad mini in 2019 and using it for a week, I believe it is fair to call it the best small tablet. But is it suitable for today’s work and life? This article attempts to answer that question.

Design

It has been 3 years since the last generation of iPad mini, and such a long time means there must be significant improvements to meet user expectations. Sure enough, Apple has equipped this small tablet with the same A12 processor as the iPhone XS, and the screen uses a 7.9-inch LED Retina display that supports Apple Pencil. This performance boost brings the latest and most complete iPad experience, but the outdated design of the mini still exposes its age. Moreover, the new mini does not have any new features that differentiate it from other Apple products.

In 2012, the screen size of most smartphones was about 5 inches. In contrast, the 7.9-inch Retina display is a significant improvement over a smartphone screen. However, in this era of borderless full-screen design, using an old design makes the iPad mini look a bit outdated. Even the newly revived iPad Air has a more modern appearance.

If you must find advantages in this old design, there are a few. The home button at the bottom of the screen is still integrated with a Touch ID sensor, and the response speed is still very fast. The top of the device still retains the headphone jack. Using the standard Lightning port means that previous accessories are still applicable. Moreover, the mini’s compact body remains the most portable among Apple tablets.

Display

The new iPad mini’s screen is not larger or higher in resolution than before, but visually it is much better than the iPad mini 4. Apple has laminated the display panel directly onto the glass cover, eliminating any gaps. This improvement may not be very noticeable, but its impact on visual effects is significant.

The display supports a wider color gamut and Apple’s True Tone color adjustment, ensuring that the display looks vibrant under any lighting conditions. It would be better if the screen brightness were increased a bit; compared to the iPhone XS, the display brightness is noticeably lower.

This is my first time using the Apple Pencil on a small display, and the experience of writing or taking notes is better than on the iPad Pro. This may be due to the screen size; after all, a large blank sheet of paper can leave you unsure of where to start.

After using it, you will want to buy an Apple Pencil, but this pen costs 722 yuan. Moreover, it is only the first-generation Apple Pencil, and the iPad mini only supports the first generation.

Performance

If the new iPad mini does not run smoothly, then all other features are useless. Fortunately, the A12 Bionic processor can meet all your current usage needs; it uses the same processor as the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max. In other words, the iPad mini is much more powerful than the larger entry-level iPad.

To test the daily performance of the iPad mini, I tried to minimize the use of my phone and computer, using only the iPad mini for everything. For daily multitasking, it is clearly more than capable. Of course, due to the limited screen size, the operation space for split-screen multitasking is quite restricted, but it is still functional.

When I wanted to use it to edit some photos or 4K video footage, the iPad mini ran Adobe Premiere Rush without any issues. Large games are also no problem; the iPad mini successfully consumed a lot of my time.

If you need a powerful small tablet, there are not many options other than the iPad mini. More importantly, the performance of this mini still has some redundancy, so you won’t need to replace it due to performance bottlenecks for several years.

Battery

Apple states that the mini tablet can last about 10 hours on a single charge. Moreover, as per usual practice, Apple tends to be conservative in its battery life claims. When I fully charged the iPad mini and watched about five hours of American dramas during a business trip, I then used it for another five to six hours of web browsing and some casual games. This is not a one-time result; I typically use it for around 11 hours before recharging.

Although the iPad mini’s battery life is sufficient for daily use, if you are used to a larger iPad, you will find a significant difference in standby time. When using the standard iPad or iPad Pro, I generally recharge it after a few days when there is still a little battery left. If you do not use the iPad mini much, it can generally stay on standby for three to four days. However, if you use it daily, you will typically need to recharge the mini every other day.

Camera

The iPad mini certainly has a camera, but it is not your first choice for taking photos. For the new iPad mini, the camera may be its most mediocre aspect. The rear has an 8-megapixel f/2.4 camera that can take usable photos and record some useful 1080p video clips. However, compared to smartphone cameras, the results are quite inferior; after all, it is 2019, and there are not many scenarios where a tablet is used for photography. The 7-megapixel front camera also poses no other issues; the larger screen compared to a phone may help with selfie composition. However, the lack of a depth sensor means it is challenging to take portrait photos with a blurred background.

Conclusion

For those who pursue both performance and portability, this iPad makes a lot of sense. Most companies are promoting cheap, low-performance small tablets. For users who only need to run some small applications, these tablets may offer better value for money.

Despite having many small drawbacks, the 2019 iPad mini is still the best small tablet you can buy today. The more important question is whether small tablets really have a place in life. At least for me, my phone has completely replaced its role.

Pros

• Powerful performance, even excessive

• Stable battery life

• Laminated display improves visual effects

• Supports first-generation Apple Pencil

Cons

• Outdated design, the same as three years ago

• Average camera performance

• Slow 12W charger