The iPad mini continues to hold a special place in my heart. The iPad mini 7 is by no means the most powerful tablet Apple has made, but it’s the most attractive and the one my family and I are most drawn to. It’s been a year since it was released, and when I stop and think about it, I start to realize how many things we use it for, from simple web browsing and e-books to educational purposes for our kids and brain power at work. My iPad Pro is my main computer and I love all of its features, but I have to say that the iPad mini is Apple’s most versatile and purest form of iPad.
Check out our iPad mini 1-year review video below.
specification
Since it’s been about a year, let’s take a look back at the specifications of the iPad mini.
- Chip: A17 Pro (same as iPhone 15 Pro)
- screen: 8.3 inch Liquid Retina (326 ppi, 60Hz)
- camera: 12MP rear, 12MP front
- Charging and ports: USB-C (USB2 speed)
- Biometrics: Touch ID for lock button
- audio: Stereo speakers (top and bottom)
- accessories: Apple Pencil Pro & Apple Pencil USB-C support
The big change between the mini 6 and mini 7 is the upgrade to the A17 Pro chip. This is the same chip that was in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and Apple promoted it as an Apple Intelligence upgrade. Let me tell you, I don’t use the Apple Intelligence feature at all. However, a byproduct of that improved chip is that it not only has better overall performance, but also has more RAM, is more efficient, and works better with the new iPadOS 16 update. This also added support for the Apple Pencil Pro, which I love.
The iPad mini is only a year old, and the A17 Pro is two years old, but they’re still good enough for everyday use.
design
From here you can see that the iPad mini is really just an iPad. First, there’s the size. Fits in most bags, wallets, fanny packs, and even pants pockets if needed. Can be used with one or both hands. It can be used comfortably both vertically and horizontally. It truly feels like a bigger, denser, more powerful iPhone.
One interesting design choice is the placement of the volume rocker. Located on the top of the iPad mini, where the Lock/Touch ID button is located. But what’s nice is that the volume rocker changes direction through the software based on the orientation you’re holding the iPad. Amazingly, it works 100% of the time. Then there’s Touch ID. Personally, I don’t really like it, especially when compared to FaceID. The TouchID sensor works perfectly fine, is secure, and I’ve had no issues with it. I prefer FaceID to TouchID. What do you think?
Otherwise, the design is familiar. It fits perfectly into the iPad lineup and adopts the industrial design language introduced with iPad Pro in 2018. However, we hope that future versions will shrink the bezels a bit.
Daily use and performance
Now that we’ve covered the specs and design, let’s talk about what’s really important: how I use it. A year has passed since then, and the iPad mini 7 is still working fine. It’s fast, responsive, and keeps getting better with iPadOS 26. The battery life is long and the standby time is very long, so you can easily get through the day. And for the price, the display has held up wonderfully. Now that I’m using an iPad and iPhone with promotional displays, it’s hard to go back to slower displays, but the iPad mini makes me forget about the low refresh rate. But how do you actually use it?
1. Casual iPad Use
Since it’s an iPad, I use it for content consumption, including YouTube TV, Netflix, regular YouTube, and scrolling Twitter (yes, it’s still Twitter for me). For example, tonight I’ll probably watch the Miami Dolphins game on my iPad mini while my wife uses the TV. In this case, I prefer the iPad mini over the iPad Pro. Because it feels like you have a bigger phone and is easier to use in tablet mode. The iPad Pro, on the other hand, is too large for that couch scenario.
2. Parental Use
As a parent who just welcomed my second child, the iPad mini has been great in many ways. The first one is for 4 year olds. There is a wealth of educational content and games for her to play. I also play with her, so it’s a collaborative experience. She doesn’t just sit alone in the corner with her iPad. Apple Arcade has some great titles for fun and education, so we recommend giving them a try. You also don’t have to worry about accidentally making in-app purchases. This is great. There’s also an Apple Pencil component, so she’s learning to write, draw, and understand what the different types of tools are. Sure, I can do this with my iPad Pro, but it’s my computer and the last thing I want is a 4-year-old swinging my $2000 iPad Pro around.
Second, for my newborn, I use the Nanit camera ecosystem, so I use an iPad mini as a baby monitor to display that camera feed.
3. Family Home Hub
The iPad mini has also become a smart home hub. I keep it in the living room so anyone can pick it up and adjust the smart lights, thermostat, or view the camera system. It’s small enough to use in tablet mode and large enough to enjoy viewing your content. Yes, I keep saying you can do this with other iPads and iPhones as well. However, it is the form factor that is best suited for use cases like this.
I also use my iPad mini to check my schedule and add new events happening on all sides. Very simple and easy to share.
4. How to use it in your workflow
There are many ways to utilize iPad mini in your productivity settings. You can take notes using Apple Pencil Pro. Edit your photos in Lightroom or Affinity Photo. You can edit your podcast like my friend Stephen Robles does. However, when recording, it is used as a central monitor hub. At the same time, you can use the monitor+ app to use your iPad as a viewfinder for your Sony a6100, the Blackmagic Camera app to get a video feed from your iPhone, and finally the Shure SM7 microphone to input audio into the Voice Memos app. All of this was done on an iPad mini with iPadOS 26’s new windowing system.
The iPad mini’s windowing system is hit or miss. I can see it being a bit overwhelming on a small display, but for my particular use it worked surprisingly well. Now, would you leave other windows open for reference files and data and edit the video there? Probably not. But it’s nice to be able to do it if you want.
iPad mini 8 wishlist
The iPad mini 7 was great, but there are a few things I’d like to see improved in the next version. I want the iPad mini 8 to be a “pro” level device with pro level hardware.
- OLED display: Achieve richer colors and deeper contrast
- 120Hz Promotion: Once you use Pro, it’s hard to go back
- Faster USB-C or Thunderbolt: To speed up file transfer
- Face ID: Unlocking will be much smoother
- Possibly a smart connector: Even just a charging dock or simple stand
What do you want to add to your iPad mini?
final thoughts
A year later, the iPad Mini 7 has become my most used iPad. Not because it’s the best iPad, but because it’s the most useful in most situations. This is one of those rare devices that not only works for me, but also for my wife and kids. And I think that’s the biggest selling point here. Apple sells the iPad mini for $499, but Amazon always has sales going on. I’ve seen it for as low as $399. Even if you can find a used iPad mini 6, the experience is relatively the same.
Watch the video to see all these use cases in action.
iPad deals and accessories
