I've Tested Every Ipad Model - Here's Why I Recommend The Mini To Most People (especially At $120 Off)

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The iPad Mini 7 is connected waste for $379.
• The compact iPad Mini 7 has gone everyplace pinch maine this past week, fitting easy into bags and purses without weighing them down.
• Aside from nan much powerful A17 Pro chip, nan iPad Mini 7 isn't overmuch of an upgrade (especially for 6th-gen users), positive its show tops retired astatine 60Hz.

The iPad Mini 7 is presently $120 disconnected astatine Amazon, starting astatine $379. This woody applies to each 3 retention options.

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

Also: Why I urge this Samsung tablet complete nan iPad Air - particularly astatine this price

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

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

Also: How I utilized nan Pixel Tablet arsenic my smart location show - and why it's worthy it astatine $150 off

Unfortunately, that's wherever nan iPad Mini 7 hits its limits: entertainment. This mini tablet isn't a powerfulness user's dream aliases a distant worker's take-anywhere solution. Truthfully, it's easier to activity connected my cheaper iPad 10th Generation than connected nan $500 iPad Mini 7, truthful it's difficult to warrant nan value 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 location are galore reputable keyboard options for penning and editing documents. However, nan iPad 10th Generation doesn't support nan Apple Pencil Pro aliases Apple Intelligence, which nan iPad Mini 7 does. 

The iPad Calculator's Math Notes will make calculations for you and show you erstwhile you make a correction (in red).

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

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

I tried Apple Intelligence features successful nan iPad Mini 7 arsenic soon arsenic iPadOS 18.1 was released, and ever since. This package update included Writing Tools, nan redesigned Siri, Priority Notifications and Messages, Summarization tools, Smart Reply, and nan Clean Up instrumentality successful Photos. More updates person added other tools, for illustration ChatGPT successful Siri, and I really for illustration having matter conversations pinch nan virtual adjunct now. 

Also: The Kindle Paperwhite is my favourite E Ink scholar correct now (and connected waste for Prime Day)

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

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

As personification who uses ChatGPT and different generative AI devices 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 nan AI race, but I, for illustration galore different Apple users, was hoping for more.

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

For this reason, I would not urge buying an iPad Mini 7 simply because of nan AI features. But I urge it to personification looking for a future-proofed intermezo tablet that tin spell almost anywhere. And I do for illustration that I tin make emojis and images pinch AI and past usage them successful my iPhone 14 Pro Max, which doesn't support 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 pinch them. It besides performs good for speedy work, for illustration editing a video successful CapCut aliases a societal media station successful PS Express. 

Also: Your iPad is getting a large upgrade for free. 4 apical features I can't hold to usage connected iPadOS 26

Apple appears patient successful making Apple Intelligence its future, but nan roadworthy has been afloat of obstacles and stumbles. While Apple promises a awesome generative AI toolset, nan institution presently has a batch of balls successful nan air. If you're connected nan fence, bargain nan iPad Mini 7 for nan intermezo tablet it is, and not what Apple promises it could be. If you're a powerfulness personification looking for a much tin tablet, you'd do champion to look elsewhere.

Looking for nan adjacent champion product? Get master reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.