Apple iPad mini 8.3" Purple 2024 Review

The new iPad mini is a weird little device. It's got the same A17 Pro chip you'd find in a high-end iPhone, crammed into a body that's barely bigger than a paperback book. That makes it feel like a supercomputer in your back pocket, but it also raises the question: who exactly is this for? If you're looking for a super portable media machine or an e-reader that can also handle some light gaming, this thing is incredibly compelling. It's the perfect size for reading comics, watching videos on a plane, or just browsing the web from the couch.

Apple is clearly targeting the person who wants premium power in the smallest possible package. The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is sharp and bright at 500 nits, and the whole device weighs less than a can of soda. It's not trying to replace your laptop, and it's not a full-on gaming tablet. It's a niche product, but for that niche, it's kind of brilliant. The design is classic iPad, which means it feels fantastic in the hand and looks great.

What makes it interesting is the mismatch between its brain and its body. The A17 Pro chip is overkill for most things you'd do on a screen this size. That's not a bad thing, it just means this little tablet is future-proofed and will stay snappy for years. But that power comes with some compromises, especially when you look at the specs sheet and see where Apple had to cut corners to keep the size and price down.

Let's talk about that A17 Pro chip. In benchmarks, it lands in the 65th percentile for both CPU and GPU performance against all tablets. That's solid, and in real life, it translates to buttery smooth scrolling, instant app launches, and the ability to play any mobile game at max settings without a hiccup. Editing a 4K video on this would be a pain because of the screen size, but the chip could absolutely handle it. For gaming, the GPU score means you're getting console-quality graphics in a device you can hold in one hand.

Where the performance story gets complicated is with the RAM. At just 4GB (based on Apple's typical configuration for this tier), it's in the 26th percentile. That's the big bottleneck. You'll notice apps reloading more often if you switch between several heavy ones, and it's the main reason the productivity score is so low at 38.2. This isn't a device for having ten Safari tabs, Slack, and a document all open at once. It's for doing one or two things really well, and then moving on.

Priced between $569 and $599 for this 256GB Wi-Fi model, the iPad mini sits in a tricky spot. You're paying a premium for that compact, premium design and the powerful A17 Pro chip. On a pure price-to-performance ratio, larger tablets or even small laptops will give you more for your money. But that's not really the point here.

You're buying the specific experience of a powerful, pocketable tablet. Compared to its own family, it's cheaper than an iPad Air or Pro, but more expensive than the base iPad. Across vendors, it doesn't have a direct competitor—the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 is cheaper and slower, and the Lenovo Legion Go is a different beast entirely. You're paying for the Apple ecosystem and this unique form factor.

The most direct competitor in spirit is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, but it's much larger. For a similar size, you'd look at the Lenovo Legion Go, which is a Windows handheld for gaming, not a general-purpose tablet. The real comparison is against other iPads. The standard 10.9-inch iPad gives you a much better multitasking and productivity experience for less money, but it's bigger and has an older chip. The iPad Air gives you a better screen and more RAM in a larger body for a couple hundred dollars more.

If you need a true laptop replacement, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 or the 13-inch iPad Pro are in a different league. They'll crush the mini in productivity. But they're also heavier, more expensive, and not nearly as easy to carry everywhere. The mini's trade-off is clear: you sacrifice screen real estate, multitasking ability, and some connectivity features for unmatched portability and one-handed use.

So, who should buy this? If you're a commuter who reads e-books and comics, a traveler who wants a great video player, or someone who just wants a super portable web browser and social media device that's more comfortable than a phone, the iPad mini is an easy recommendation. It excels as a companion device.

But, if you need a tablet for serious work, note-taking with multiple apps, or as your primary computer, look at the iPad Air or a Surface Pro. The mini's limited RAM and small screen will frustrate you. Think of it as a luxury compact car—it's not for hauling cargo, but it's a joy to drive if it fits your lifestyle.