I’ve at all times been keen on the iPad Mini, particularly since Apple launched the Mini 6 in 2021. For the primary time, it felt like a pill that would deal with every part from content material creation to leisure with out weighing me down. I referred to it as my “desert island gadget,” and I actually meant it.

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With the discharge of the iPad Mini 7, the gadget has develop into much more highly effective, due to the A17 Professional chip and Apple’s new Intelligence system. Nevertheless, regardless of its 5G assist, a beautiful 8.3-inch Liquid Retina show, and a variety of apps, it nonetheless feels incomplete as a result of it may well’t make native cellphone calls. In 2024, this seems like an enormous missed alternative.

The A17 Professional chip: Why not the A18 Professional?

The iPad Mini 7’s A17 Professional chip is sort of highly effective, providing a 30% enhance in CPU efficiency and a 25% improve in GPU efficiency in comparison with the Mini 6. Which means apps run smoother, video games are extra immersive, and the gadget can deal with demanding AR experiences {and professional} apps like a professional.

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Nevertheless, Apple’s choice to make use of the A17 Professional chip within the iPad Mini 7 raises some questions. This chip was additionally utilized in final yr’s iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max, whereas this yr’s iPhone 16 lineup options the A18 chip, which is 30% sooner and extra energy-efficient. Why not convey the cutting-edge A18 chip to the iPad Mini 7? Maybe Apple had leftover A17 Professional chips from final yr’s iPhone 15 Professional manufacturing that wanted for use up.

The A18 chip is not nearly velocity; its effectivity additionally helps lengthen battery life. Utilizing this chip within the iPad Mini 7 would have made it much more highly effective for folks counting on it as their go-to gadget. By sticking with the A17 Professional, Apple hasn’t absolutely pushed the iPad Mini 7 to its potential, and that is a disappointment.

What the iPad Mini 7 can do 

Regardless of lacking out on the A18 chip, the iPad Mini 7 continues to be full of options that make it a powerful gadget:

• A17 Professional Chip: The 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU supply important efficiency boosts. Whether or not modifying images, enjoying AAA video games like Actual Racing 3 with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, or utilizing AR apps, the Mini 7 handles duties effortlessly.

• 5G Connectivity: The iPad Mini 7 helps 5G, making it preferrred for staying linked on the go. Whether or not downloading information, streaming in 4K, or partaking in on-line gaming, its efficiency stays strong.

• Apple Intelligence: Deep integration with iPadOS 18 brings system-wide instruments like generative AI for writing and proofreading throughout apps. Now you can rewrite, summarize, or clear up your textual content in apps like Mail and Notes, making multitasking and productiveness simpler.

• Show: The Mini 7’s 2266 x 1488 Full HD+ Liquid Retina show is brilliant, with 500 nits of brightness, and the anti-reflective coating makes it excellent to be used outdoor. Whether or not you are sketching, gaming, or watching films, the show delivers improbable visuals.

• Cameras: The 12MP rear digicam with Sensible HDR 4 is ideal for capturing vivid images and 4K movies, whereas the 12MP Extremely Extensive entrance digicam helps Heart Stage, preserving you within the body throughout video calls.

• Apple Pencil Professional Help: The brand new Apple Pencil Professional provides haptic suggestions, gesture controls, and strain sensitivity, making the Mini 7 a terrific instrument for sketching, note-taking, and artistic work. You’ll be able to change between instruments with out interrupting your circulate, making it really feel extremely intuitive.

• Battery Life: The iPad Mini 7’s 5078mAh battery provides all-day battery life, permitting you to apply it to the go with out continuously reaching for a charger.

The one lacking characteristic: Telephone calls

It is irritating that the iPad Mini 7, regardless of being geared up with 5G, a strong A17 Professional chip, and communication instruments like iMessage and FaceTime, nonetheless cannot make native cellphone calls. At $649 for the Wi-Fi + 5G mannequin, the Mini 7 is a extra reasonably priced choice when in comparison with the base-level iPhone 16, which begins at $799. This value distinction makes the iPad Mini 7 an interesting various, particularly if Apple enabled cellphone performance.

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Whereas it isn’t a tool you’d usually maintain as much as your ear, it could be preferrred to be used with AirPods or any Bluetooth headset — particularly the brand new AirPods 4 or AirPods Professional 2, which characteristic improved noise cancellation. Speakerphone mode would even be helpful for hands-free use in non-public settings. Apple might simply allow cellphone performance with a software program replace, but they’ve chosen to not.

This omission feels particularly shocking when contemplating that opponents within the pill market typically permit their gadgets to make calls by way of LTE. If the Mini 7 had this characteristic, it might develop into a real all-in-one gadget, permitting customers to interchange their iPhones doubtlessly. For college kids, vacationers, and professionals, having a single gadget that handles every part could be a game-changer. 

Sadly, Apple hasn’t supplied the characteristic right now.

Software program limitations

Past cellphone name performance, there are just a few different software program limitations that forestall the iPad Mini 7 from reaching its full potential:

• FaceTime & iMessage: Whereas each are supported, they depend on your Apple ID, not a cellphone quantity, limiting their utility as replacements for conventional cellphone companies. You’ll be able to, nevertheless, ahead incoming texts in your iPhone to your iPad so long as you’re logged into the identical iCloud account.

• WhatsApp: Whereas WhatsApp for iPad is in beta (closed, sadly, on the time of writing), there’s nonetheless no official native app, which frustrates customers who depend on the platform for communication.

• Instagram and X: Meta has nonetheless not delivered an official Instagram port for iPad in spite of everything these years, and X’s assist for the iPad (and, nicely, the Mac) has been lackluster, leaving many to make use of the online model.

• Apple Watch Enrollment: You continue to can not enroll or handle an Apple Watch from the iPad Mini. This implies you want an iPhone to arrange and configure your Apple Watch, which feels unnecessarily restrictive for an in any other case succesful gadget.

• CarPlay: Regardless of the Mini 7’s GPS and 5G capabilities, it lacks CarPlay assist. Whereas you should utilize it for navigation, the absence of CarPlay limits its utility in automobiles.

{Hardware} limitations

When it comes to {hardware}, the iPad Mini 7 performs nicely, however there are just a few areas the place it nonetheless lags:

• MagSafe Charging: The Mini 7 sticks with USB-C for charging, which is quick however lacks the comfort of Apple’s MagSafe system. Since MagSafe has been a staple of Apple’s ecosystem, its absence right here is one other bummer.

• Single Digicam: The rear 12MP large digicam is strong (the identical one used on earlier technology iPhones, the iPad Gen 10, and the iPad Air) however lacks the flexibility of the iPhone’s dual-camera techniques. That is extra of a limitation for artistic professionals who depend on the iPhone and iPad Professional for pictures or videography.

• No NFC for Apple Pay: You should utilize Apple Pay for on-line purchases, however there’s nonetheless no NFC assist for in-store contactless funds, that means you may want to drag out a bodily card when making purchases.

• No Satellite tv for pc Texts: Apple hasn’t indicated in its advertising and marketing if the iPad Mini 7 with 5G has the identical satellite tv for pc textual content assist for emergency communications because the iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16.

• Potential “Jelly Display” Points: One situation that plagued the Mini 6 was the “jelly display screen,” the place one aspect of the display screen would refresh slower than the opposite. Apple hasn’t explicitly addressed whether or not this has been mounted within the Mini 7, leaving some customers involved about show high quality. An OLED model of the Mini is reportedly underneath growth, however we cannot see it till 2026.

Who is that this gadget for? College students, professionals, and older customers

The iPad Mini 7 is an extremely versatile gadget that caters to completely different audiences, but it surely excels in two specific classes: college students and older customers.

For college kids, the iPad Mini 7 provides portability, Apple Pencil Professional assist, and all-day battery life, making it a perfect companion for note-taking, content material creation, and multitasking on the go. It is sufficiently small to slot in a backpack however highly effective sufficient to deal with academic apps, media modifying, and even gaming.

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Older customers will respect its light-weight design and bigger display screen in comparison with an iPhone. This makes looking the online, studying emails, and watching movies simpler with out straining eyes. Its intuitive interface and Apple Pencil Professional make it excellent for informal productiveness, journaling, or artistic hobbies.

Ultimate ideas: Shut, however not fairly excellent

The iPad Mini 7 will get quite a bit proper. It is moveable, highly effective, and full of options like Apple Intelligence and Apple Pencil Professional assist, making it a terrific gadget for college kids, professionals, and older customers. Its top-notch efficiency and 5G connectivity make it a powerful contender for these needing a dependable, high-powered gadget.

Nevertheless, the dearth of cellphone name performance holds it again. If Apple enabled cellphone calls and addressed a few of the different limitations — like the lack to handle Apple Watches — the iPad Mini 7 might simply develop into the all-in-one gadget it has the potential to be.

Till then, it stays an extremely succesful small pill however not fairly the proper hybrid it might be.