I've tested every iPad model - here's why I still recommend the Mini (especially for $100 off)

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The iPad Mini 7 is connected merchantability for $399.
• The compact iPad Mini 7 has gone with maine everywhere, fitting easy into bags and purses without weighing them down.
• Aside from the much almighty A17 Pro chip, the iPad Mini 7 isn't overmuch of an upgrade (especially for 6th-gen users), positive its show tops retired astatine 60Hz.

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I've utilized galore tablets but ne'er considered getting an iPad Mini. Because of its size, the tiny 8.3-inch tablet has ever been the go-to for my nieces and nephews, and I ne'er truly saw a request for a tiny tablet erstwhile I already person a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max. 

Also: Best Black Friday iPad deals 2025: I hand-picked the champion discounts

However, my cognition changed erstwhile I began utilizing the latest iPad Mini 7. I've ever loved a large show connected a tablet, but I underestimated conscionable however convenient a compact iPad would beryllium successful my regular life. I've taken the iPad Mini 7 everyplace the past month, capable to gaffe the 8.3-inch instrumentality into my purse without it weighing down -- oregon sticking retired of -- my bag.

As a result, I've utilized the iPad Mini successful antithetic situations wherever I've recovered myself looking for entertainment, including during agelong aesculapian infusions that required maine to beryllium successful a seat for astir 5 hours. 

Also: I replaced my MacBook Pro with the M3 iPad Air - and I mightiness ne'er spell back

Unfortunately, that's wherever the iPad Mini 7 hits its limits: entertainment. This tiny tablet isn't a powerfulness user's imagination oregon a distant worker's take-anywhere solution. Truthfully, it's easier to enactment connected my cheaper iPad 10th Generation than connected the $500 iPad Mini 7, truthful it's hard to warrant the terms for a tablet that's mostly bully for playing games and consuming media. 

The iPad 10th Generation's larger surface gives maine much existent property to edit photos and videos, and determination are galore reputable keyboard options for penning and editing documents. However, the iPad 10th Generation doesn't enactment the Apple Pencil Pro oregon Apple Intelligence, which the iPad Mini 7 does. 

The iPad Calculator's Math Notes volition marque calculations for you and archer you erstwhile you marque a mistake (in red).

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The iPad Mini 7 features the A17 Pro chip, the aforesaid processor recovered successful the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, and is besides compatible with Apple Intelligence. 

I tried Apple Intelligence features successful the iPad Mini 7 arsenic soon arsenic iPadOS 18.1 was released, and ever since. This bundle update included Writing Tools, the redesigned Siri, Priority Notifications and Messages, Summarization tools, Smart Reply, and the Clean Up instrumentality successful Photos. More updates person added other tools, similar ChatGPT successful Siri, and I truly similar having substance conversations with the virtual adjunct now. 

Also: I've tested each iPad sold by Apple close present - here's the exemplary I urge most

I recovered much glitches successful Apple's Game Mode than I did utilizing Apple Intelligence, but I wasn't wowed by the iPad Mini's generative AI features. In the iPad Mini's defense, the Game Mode glitches look to beryllium an iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 contented alternatively than a device-specific issue. I've encountered the aforesaid ones successful my iPhone 14 Pro Max since updating to iOS 18. 

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

As idiosyncratic who uses ChatGPT and different generative AI tools daily, I find that Apple Intelligence features request to beryllium much polished and further developed. This isn't each that astonishing since Apple has notoriously fallen down successful the AI race, but I, similar galore different Apple users, was hoping for more.

Also: The champion tiny tablets of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

For this reason, I would not urge buying an iPad Mini 7 simply due to the fact that of the AI features. But I urge it to idiosyncratic looking for a future-proofed amusement tablet that tin spell astir anywhere. And I bash similar that I tin make emojis and images with AI and past usage them successful my iPhone 14 Pro Max, which doesn't enactment Apple Intelligence.

ZDNET's buying advice

The iPad Mini 7 is compact and fast, and its Apple silicon processor is built to past for years. It's an fantabulous companion tablet for Apple users looking for a instrumentality to spell with them. It besides performs good for speedy work, similar editing a video successful CapCut oregon a societal media station successful PS Express. 

Also: Why I replaced my Kindle with an iPad Mini for speechmaking ebooks - and can't spell back

Apple appears steadfast successful making Apple Intelligence its future, but the roadworthy has been afloat of obstacles and stumbles. While Apple promises a large generative AI toolset, the institution presently has a batch of balls successful the air. If you're connected the fence, bargain the iPad Mini 7 for the amusement tablet it is, and not what Apple promises it could be. If you're a powerfulness idiosyncratic looking for a much susceptible tablet, you'd bash champion to look elsewhere.

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