Apple iPad mini Apple iPad Mini, 5th Gen (Wi-Fi, 64GB) - Space Review

So you're looking at the iPad mini. It's the small one. The 5th Gen model with 64GB of storage is a few years old now, but it still pops up at tempting prices, like the $217 deal we're seeing. People search for 'best small tablet for reading' or 'cheap iPad for media' all the time, and this is a classic answer. It's built around that super portable 7.9-inch Retina screen and Apple's older but still capable A12 Bionic chip. If you want a super compact iPad that fits in a coat pocket or a small bag, this is basically your only option from Apple.

The A12 Bionic chip lands in the 68th percentile for both CPU and GPU performance. In plain English, that means it's not the fastest anymore, but it's far from slow. It handles everyday stuff like browsing, streaming video, and light gaming without breaking a sweat. You can edit a photo or play a game like Genshin Impact on lower settings, but you'll feel its age if you push it with more intensive creative apps or try to multitask heavily. The 3GB of RAM is a real bottleneck here, scoring in just the 3rd percentile. That's why its 'productivity' score is so low at 27.8 out of 100. Apps will reload more often if you switch between them.

At its original price, the 64GB storage and 3GB RAM would be hard to recommend. But at $217, the math changes completely. You're getting a premium-feeling, ultra-portable Apple tablet for less than many budget Android models. The value is all about that low entry price for the Apple ecosystem and that perfect mini form factor. Just know you're buying into an older device with clear limitations.

Let's name names. Compared to a modern iPad Pro or a Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, the mini is in a different league for power and screen quality, but it's also a fraction of the size and cost. They're not really direct rivals. A better comparison is the newer iPad mini (6th Gen), which has a much faster chip, more RAM, USB-C, and a modern design. It's better in every way, but it also costs over $400. The Surface Pro 11 is a full Windows laptop replacement; the mini is a companion device. The Lenovo Legion Go is for gaming. The mini's real competition is other small, older tablets or used devices. For the price, it's tough to beat if portability is your top priority.

Should you buy this iPad mini? It's a very specific yes. Buy it if you absolutely need the smallest possible iPad and have a very tight budget. It's perfect as a dedicated e-reader, a portable video screen for the kitchen, or a light web-browsing device for travel. Do not buy it if you need to do real work, want to store lots of media locally, or plan to keep it for more than a couple of years. At $217, it's a compelling deal for a very specific, portable use case.