Apple iPad mini Apple iPad Mini 4, 64GB, Silver - WiFi (Renewed) Review
The renewed iPad Mini 4 trades on its compact design, but nearly decade-old hardware and widespread battery problems make it a tough sell in 2024.
The 30-Second Version
The renewed iPad Mini 4 is a dated tablet sold on nostalgia. It's fine for very light use, but slow performance and awful battery life make it a poor value at $150. Only buy if you absolutely need the small size and are okay with its limitations.
Overview
The iPad Mini 4 is a classic, but it's a classic from 2015. This renewed model gets you that iconic small tablet form factor for about $150, which sounds tempting. Just know you're buying a piece of history. It runs an old version of iPadOS and won't get any new updates, so app compatibility is already starting to become a question mark.
Performance
The Apple A8 chip inside was great for its time, but our benchmarks put its CPU performance in the 40th percentile today. That means basic stuff like web browsing and video streaming is fine, but don't expect it to handle modern games or intensive apps smoothly. The 7.9-inch Retina display still looks sharp (60th percentile for screens), but the battery life is a real weak spot, with scores landing below average.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Compact and lightweight design is still highly portable. 98th
- Renewed models often arrive in excellent physical condition.
- Display is sharp and bright for media consumption.
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor adds a layer of convenience.
Cons
- Performance is slow by modern standards. 31th
- Battery life is unreliable and degrades quickly.
- No longer receives software or security updates.
- Limited to older WiFi standards and a Lightning port.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Apple |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 64 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
Display
| Size | 7.9" |
| Resolution | 2048 |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 4 |
Physical
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.7 lbs |
| OS | iPadOS 9 |
Value & Pricing
At $150, the value proposition is shaky. You're paying for the Apple logo and the small form factor, but you're getting hardware that's nearly a decade old. For the same money, you could get a brand new budget Android tablet with a warranty and current software. The 'renewed' certification and 90-day warranty help, but they don't change the fact that the tech inside is obsolete.
vs Competition
If you're set on a small tablet, the modern iPad Mini (6th gen or later) is in a different universe performance-wise, but it costs four times as much. Compared to current budget rivals like an Amazon Fire tablet or a Samsung Galaxy Tab A, this iPad Mini 4 might feel more premium, but those newer tablets will actually run apps properly and get updates. Against other renewed tech, this one feels particularly long in the tooth.
| Spec | Apple iPad mini Apple iPad Mini 4, 64GB, Silver - WiFi (Renewed) | Apple iPad Pro Apple - 11-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung - Galaxy Tab S10+ - 12.4" 256GB - Wi-Fi - | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” OLED | Lenovo Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM | GPD GPD Pocket 4: Mini Laptop with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Apple | Apple M5 | Mediatek MT6989 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | MediaTek Dimensity | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM (GB) | 64 | 12 | 12 | 32 | 8 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 64 | 256 | 256 | 1000 | 256 | 2048 |
| Screen | 7.9" 2048x1536 | 11" 2420x1668 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 8.8" 2560x1600 |
| OS | iPadOS 9 | iPadOS | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home |
| Stylus | false | true | true | false | true | false |
| Cellular | false | false | false | false | false | false |
Common Questions
Q: Can it run the latest apps and games?
No. It's stuck on an old version of iPadOS, so many newer apps and games simply won't be compatible or will run very poorly.
Q: Is the battery life good?
Not really. Even when new, its battery scored below average. In a renewed model, battery degradation is a common and serious problem, as customer reviews show.
Q: What does 'renewed' mean for this?
It's been tested to work, cleaned, and comes with a 90-day warranty. However, for a device this old, 'renewed' can't reverse hardware obsolescence.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you need a reliable daily driver. Parents looking for a kid's first tablet should avoid it due to the battery and performance issues. Anyone who wants to use modern apps or expects software updates should look at literally any newer tablet, even a budget Android model.
Verdict
Only consider this if you have a single, very specific need: a super cheap, ultra-portable screen for reading books or watching videos in a pinch, and you're okay with it becoming a paperweight sooner rather than later. For anyone else, especially if this is for a kid or as a primary device, it's a hard pass.