The Apple iPad Mini 7 has arrived with subtle improvements, offering a powerful and portable tablet experience. While it doesn’t come with a major design overhaul, this tablet builds upon its predecessor by upgrading its internal hardware, making it faster and more capable. Even though Apple’s much-anticipated AI features won’t be available at launch, there’s plenty to like about the iPad Mini 7, especially if you’re looking for a small device that delivers excellent performance for everyday tasks.
However, you may be wondering whether the iPad Mini 7 is the right choice for you or if you should opt for a more affordable iPad 10 or the slightly more expensive iPad Air M2. In this review, we’ll explore what makes the iPad Mini 7 stand out and whether it’s the best small tablet available today.
Design
Apple hasn’t changed much in terms of design with the iPad Mini 7. The look and feel are very similar to its predecessor, but there are a few new color options to choose from, such as a pastel blue and a new purple shade. These colors add a fresh touch to the device, though they might not have the vibrant punch of some of Apple’s other devices like the iPhone 16.
The iPad Mini 7 is incredibly lightweight, weighing just 293g for the Wi-Fi version and 297g for the cellular model. This makes it extremely portable, perfect for carrying around in a bag or using for long reading sessions without straining your arm. It’s small enough to hold comfortably with one hand, which makes it an ideal choice for people who want a compact tablet for reading or casual use.
Although the design is largely unchanged, the iPad Mini 7 still has a premium feel. The flat edges and metal body avoid the use of plastic that’s often seen in smaller tablets, giving it a more upscale vibe. The TouchID sensor remains integrated into the power button, making it easy to unlock the device and authenticate payments quickly.
Screen
The iPad Mini 7 features an 8.3-inch LCD screen, which is smaller than the displays found on the iPad 10 and iPad Air. While it may not offer the same visual experience as the OLED displays on the iPad Pro, it’s still a solid screen that performs well for watching videos, reading, and browsing the web. The display uses an IPS panel with True Tone and a 2266 x 1488 resolution, ensuring crisp text and vibrant colors, especially when watching video content.
One of the standout features of the iPad Mini 7’s screen is its fully laminated display, which reduces glare and offers better contrast. While the 120Hz ProMotion and OLED screens found in the Pro models would enhance the visual experience further, this LCD panel holds up well for most everyday tasks. The display’s brightness reaches up to 500 nits, so it’s easy to use in bright conditions, whether you’re outdoors or in a well-lit room.
Apple has improved the performance of the display compared to previous Mini models, with no noticeable “jelly scroll” issues during use. However, for those who value the best possible screen quality, the Pro models still hold an edge with their higher contrast ratios and smoother refresh rates.
Performance
Under the hood, the iPad Mini 7 gets a significant performance boost with the introduction of the A17 Pro chip, the same one found in the iPhone 15 Pro. This chip brings faster processing power and enables better performance for high-end gaming and other demanding tasks. For instance, games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Resident Evil Village can run smoothly thanks to the A17 Pro’s enhanced graphics capabilities, even supporting ray tracing.
Compared to the previous iPad Mini 6, the A17 Pro chip provides a noticeable improvement in speed. Apps open faster, and the tablet handles multitasking with ease. The addition of 8GB of RAM (up from 4GB) helps the device run more efficiently, supporting smoother performance when switching between apps or using resource-intensive applications like video and photo editors.
While the iPad Mini 7’s internal storage starts at 128GB, it offers upgrades to 256GB and 512GB, although those higher storage tiers come at a hefty price. However, the increased RAM and more powerful chip make the iPad Mini 7 a capable machine for various tasks, from gaming to productivity. The Wi-Fi 6E support is another upgrade, providing faster and more stable connections when using the tablet with compatible routers.
Apple Pencil and Accessories
The iPad Mini 7 continues to support the Apple Pencil, which can be used for note-taking, drawing, or sketching. It works with both the Apple Pencil USB-C and the more advanced Apple Pencil Pro. The Pro version offers additional features like pressure sensitivity, haptic feedback, and palm rejection, making it a great option for creative professionals or anyone who enjoys doodling.
While you won’t be able to use the Apple Pencil 2 with the iPad Mini 7, the Pencil Pro provides a more refined drawing experience. If you’re upgrading from an earlier iPad, it’s worth noting that the new pencil compatibility is part of the internal changes in the Mini 7, making it a better device for artists or people who want to use the tablet as a digital sketchbook or notebook.
There’s also a variety of protective cases available, including the Smart Folio in different colors. However, Apple hasn’t released an official keyboard case for the iPad Mini 7, so if you need a full keyboard experience, you’ll need to look at third-party options.
Software
The iPad Mini 7 runs on iOS 18, which brings several enhancements, including support for Apple Intelligence—Apple’s new AI-powered features. These features are still in development and won’t be fully available when the iPad Mini 7 launches, but they promise to offer tools like automatic proofreading, rewriting text in different tones, and summarizing content.
While the Apple Intelligence features aren’t fully functional yet, iOS 18 offers a great experience on smaller devices like the iPad Mini 7. The software is intuitive, with a wide selection of apps available for all kinds of tasks. You can also customize the interface more than before, including changing the colors of icons and arranging them differently on your home screen.
However, the iPad Mini 7 does not support Stage Manager, which is only available on larger iPads with bigger screens. While the chip can handle it, the 8.3-inch screen would be too small to effectively use Stage Manager, so Apple has wisely excluded it from this model.
Battery Life
Apple claims that the iPad Mini 7 offers up to 10 hours of web browsing or video playback on a single charge, and in our testing, this seems accurate. For lighter tasks like reading or watching videos, the battery lasts closer to 11 hours, though the battery life will be shorter if you use the device at maximum brightness.
Charging the iPad Mini 7 is done via USB-C, and a full charge takes around two hours. While Apple includes a USB-C cable, they don’t include a plug adapter in certain regions, which could be a downside if you don’t already have one from previous devices. However, charging is still relatively quick, especially if you already own a compatible USB-C adapter.
Final Thoughts
The iPad Mini 7 is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a powerful yet portable tablet. It performs well for everyday tasks, gaming, and creative work with the Apple Pencil, and its compact size makes it ideal for reading or traveling. While it may not have the best screen available compared to the iPad Pro lineup, it’s still a solid choice if portability is your top priority.
If you’re deciding between the iPad Mini 7 and the iPad Air M2, the Mini 7 offers better portability, but the iPad Air provides more screen real estate and additional features. If you’re looking for the best small tablet, the iPad Mini 7 is hard to beat, thanks to its improved performance, enhanced storage options, and the promise of future software upgrades with Apple Intelligence.
