Apple iPad Pro Apple iPad Pro 12.9in 64GB WiFi Only, Space Grey Review

So you're looking at the iPad Mini 4, specifically the 128GB WiFi model. It's the classic small tablet, and at around $149, it's a very different proposition than the $500+ modern Minis. This is an older device, running on an Apple A8 chip with 2GB of RAM and that sharp 7.9-inch Retina screen. People often search for a cheap iPad for basic stuff, and this fits that bill. It's a compact slate for reading, watching videos, and light web browsing, but you need to know its limits going in.

The performance story is a mixed bag, and the benchmark percentiles tell it all. The GPU is in the 99th percentile, which sounds amazing, but that's mostly because it's being compared to a lot of very old, very slow tablets. In practice, the A8 chip and especially the 2GB of RAM (which is in the 3rd percentile) are the bottlenecks. It can handle streaming video and simple games just fine, but don't expect smooth multitasking or to run the latest, most demanding apps. It scored a 44.8 overall, with its best area being entertainment at 48.4. For productivity tasks, it's weak, scoring only 28.5. That low RAM will cause apps to reload frequently if you try to do too much at once.

At $149, the value argument is simple: it's the cheapest way to get a real iPad with a decent amount of storage. You're paying for the Apple logo, the iOS ecosystem, and that nice little screen. The trade-off is that you're buying ancient hardware. For the same money or less, you could get a newer budget Android tablet like the N-one or Lenovo Idea Tab Pro with more RAM and a faster chip, but you lose the Apple app polish and integration.

Let's name names. Compared to a modern competitor like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+, this iPad Mini 4 is in a completely different league, and not a good one. The S10+ will run circles around it in every way. A more direct price comparison is something like the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro, which offers a bigger, better screen and more RAM for similar money, but with Android. Even compared to Apple's own lineup, the newer iPad Minis (with the A15 or M2 chips) are lightyears ahead in speed and support. The only reason to pick this over those is the ultra-low price.

Should you buy this? Only in one very specific case. If you need a super cheap, ultra-portable screen for reading books, watching Netflix in bed, or as a dedicated kid's tablet for light games, and you're locked into Apple's ecosystem, this can work. But you have to accept that it's slow, it won't get new iOS updates, and it will struggle with anything more demanding. For anyone wanting a tablet for real productivity, modern gaming, or as a primary device, this is not it. Spend a bit more for a newer model, or look at a budget Android alternative.