Apple iPad mini 8.3" Built for Intelligence Space Gray 2024 Review

So you're thinking about the iPad mini, huh? If you've been looking for a super portable tablet that fits in one hand, this is the one to beat. It packs Apple's A17 Pro chip into a tiny 8.3-inch frame that weighs less than 300 grams. The Liquid Retina display looks great, and it's built from the ground up for Apple Intelligence, which helps with writing and getting things done. It starts with 128GB of storage, and it's priced right around the $500 mark, which puts it in a competitive spot for a premium small tablet.

Let's talk about that A17 Pro chip. It's the same processor from the iPhone 15 Pro, and it shows. In our benchmarks, the CPU performance lands in the 71st percentile and the GPU hits the 70th. That means this little guy is seriously fast for its size. You can throw pretty much any game at it, and it'll handle it without breaking a sweat. Apps launch instantly, and multitasking feels smooth. The only real performance hiccup is the RAM, which sits in a low 28th percentile. You might notice apps reloading a bit more often if you have a ton open, but for most single-app use, it's a non-issue.

At around $500, the iPad mini is asking a lot for a small tablet. You're paying a premium for the Apple ecosystem, the A17 Pro power, and that ultra-portable form factor. If your main use is reading, watching videos, and light gaming on the go, it's a strong option. But if you need a device for real work, that money might be better spent elsewhere, as the productivity limitations of iPadOS are still very real here.

This is where things get interesting. Compared to the 13-inch iPad Pro with the M5 chip, the mini is a totally different device. The Pro is a powerhouse for creative work, but it's huge and expensive. The mini is a pocketable media machine. Against the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, you're looking at a massive Android tablet with a fantastic screen for movies, but it's not nearly as portable. And then there's the Microsoft Surface Pro 11. If you need a tablet that can truly replace a laptop for productivity, the Surface Pro running full Windows is the clear choice. The iPad mini is for when portability is your number one priority.

Should you buy the iPad mini? It's a yes, but only if you know exactly what you're getting. This isn't your main computer. It's the perfect secondary device. If you're an iPhone user who wants a tiny tablet for reading in bed, watching videos on a plane, or light gaming on the couch, you'll love it. The performance is fantastic, and it's a joy to hold. But if you need to do serious work, edit videos, or code, you'll hit the limits of iPadOS fast. For its specific niche—ultimate portability in a premium package—it's still the best in the game.