Apple iPad mini 8.3" Purple 2024 Review

The iPad mini is back with the A17 Pro chip, and it's still the perfect small tablet. It's incredibly light at 299 grams, and that 8.3-inch Liquid Retina screen is sharp and bright for reading or watching shows. You get 256GB of storage, WiFi 6E, and 5G cellular, so it's a fully connected little device. But it's not trying to be a laptop replacement. It's for when you want something more substantial than a phone but way more portable than a full-size iPad.

The A17 Pro chip is fast, no question. It lands in the 65th percentile for both CPU and GPU, so it handles everyday apps and games without a hiccup. The screen is also solid, sitting in the 62nd percentile with great color and 500 nits of brightness. The weak spot is the RAM, which is down in the 26th percentile. You might notice apps reloading more often if you push it hard. And the battery life is just average, right at the 50th percentile mark.

If you find it in that $730-$750 range, it's a fair price for what you get. You're paying for that compact, premium Apple form factor and the latest chip. But you're not getting the best screen or battery, and the RAM is a letdown. It's not a steal, but it's priced about right for a premium mini tablet.

Stack it up against the competition and its role is clear. The 13-inch iPad Pro with the M5 chip is in another league for power and features, but it's also much bigger and more expensive. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has a massive, gorgeous screen for entertainment, but it's a couch tablet, not a pocketable one. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is a full Windows PC. The iPad mini doesn't beat any of them on raw specs. It wins by being the one you'll actually carry with you everywhere.

Buy this if you're all about portability and want a premium small tablet for reading, media, and light tasks. It's the best ebook reader and travel companion around. But skip it if you need to do serious multitasking, want all-day battery, or plan to use it for digital art. For those jobs, look at the bigger iPad Pro or a Samsung Tab S9+.