Apple iPad mini 8.3" 7th Gen Blue 2024

The iPad mini A17 Pro is the best small tablet money can buy, blending desktop-class speed with a pocketable design. Battery life is exceptional, and it chews through apps and games without breaking a sweat. If portability matters more than a big screen, stop looking and buy this.

Apple's latest iPad mini sneaks in a serious upgrade with the A17 Pro chip, the same silicon that powers the iPhone 15 Pro. This 2024 model keeps the 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, Touch ID on the top button, and the impossibly light 297g body, but it's now built for Apple Intelligence and works with the Apple Pencil Pro. If you're hunting for a compact tablet under $500 that can actually do real work, this thing is basically the only game in town. Our database puts it in the 98th percentile for social proof, so clearly people are buying and loving this little slab.

We've tested the iPad mini across reading, entertainment, and productivity. It's the best device we've ever used for reading digital books, scoring an 84/100 there. The screen is crisp at 326 ppi with P3 wide color and True Tone, even if it's stuck at 60Hz. And at 500 nits, it's bright enough for most situations, but you'll squint outside in direct sun. The small size makes it effortless to hold for hours, which is why buyers flock to it for travel and commuting.

Connectivity is top-tier. Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and USB-C with faster data speeds put this in the 96th percentile of all tablets we track. The optional 5G model means you can stay online almost anywhere. You're looking at $499 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model, but the price range we see across vendors is wild: $330 to $949. That low end is usually a refurb or open-box unit, and honestly, at that price it's a no-brainer.

The A17 Pro chip here is a 6-core CPU with an 8-core GPU, and while our database ranks it at the 60th percentile for tablet CPU performance and 61st for GPU, those numbers don't tell the whole story. Most tablets in our database are larger devices with active cooling or laptop-class chips, and the iPad mini runs laps around anything in its size class. Apps launch instantly, multitasking feels fluid, and even heavy games like Genshin Impact run at playable frame rates. The 8GB of RAM (66th percentile) helps keep things humming, too.

Battery life is a standout. The 19Wh cell lands in the 94th percentile, meaning it punches way above its weight class for endurance. In our tests, we easily got through a full day of note-taking, streaming, and browsing without hunting for a charger. If you're using it purely for reading or media consumption, you can stretch it well into a second day. The lack of ProMotion at 120Hz keeps power draw in check, so if you're coming from an iPad Pro you'll notice the 60Hz judder, but the trade-off is real-world battery stamina that most larger tablets can't match.

At $499 retail, the iPad mini is expensive for a small tablet, but the street price we're seeing is all over the place. Our database shows vendors stretching from $330 to $949 depending on storage, cellular, and condition. If you can snag a mint condition 128GB model for under $400, you're getting a steal. The sweet spot for most people is the base 128GB Wi-Fi model at $499, but if you're a heavy gamer or download lots of movies, you'll want the 256GB or 512GB tier. The real competition here isn't another 8-inch tablet, it's whether you'd be happier with a refurbished 11-inch iPad Pro or a Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE for a similar price.

The obvious rival is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, but that's a 14.6-inch behemoth designed to replace your laptop. It'll smoke the iPad mini in productivity and screen quality, but it's not something you toss in a bag for reading on the subway. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro comes closer in spirit with its 11-inch screen and solid performance, but it's still a big tablet and way heavier. If you're eyeing the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition, you're already in a different universe: that's a full Windows machine that can't match the iPad mini's grab-and-go simplicity. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is a budget alternative with a larger display, but its processor and build quality are a step behind. Bottom line: the iPad mini has no real direct competitor in the ultra-portable premium segment. It's either this or a small, cheap Android tablet that'll feel sluggish in months.

Skip the iPad mini if you're buying a productivity machine first and a portable tablet second. Its 70.3/100 productivity score is our weakest area for this device, and that's because the 8.3-inch screen is too cramped for heavy multitasking with multiple windows. If you plan to use a keyboard case and treat this like a laptop, you'll be squinting and frustrated. Artists who need a large canvas for detailed digital painting should look at the 12.9-inch iPad Pro or the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra. And if you're on a tight budget, a refurbished iPad Air or a Lenovo Idea Tab Pro will give you a bigger screen and better typing experience for less money.

If you want a tablet that disappears into your bag and handles anything you throw at it except serious multitasking with a keyboard, buy the iPad mini A17 Pro. It's the best travel companion for reading, light work, and media consumption. The A17 Pro chip ensures it'll stay snappy for years, and the battery life is so good you'll forget to charge it. The screen's 60Hz might annoy you if you're used to ProMotion, but the portability trade-off is worth it. Artists and note-takers will love the Apple Pencil Pro support, though the small canvas can feel cramped for heavy drawing sessions. At $499 new or ~$350 used, it's an easy recommendation for anyone who prioritizes size and weight over raw screen real estate.