For a long time, the Apple iPad Mini line has been a favorite among those who value a portable device that doesn’t skimp on speed and performance. With the launching of the new iPad Mini 7 (7th Generation) this October 2024, Apple has enhanced this small powerhouse with the A17 Pro chip, promoting it as a multipurpose tablet for those who are constantly on the go. Nicknamed a “Pocket Rocket,” the iPad Mini 7 aims to pack serious performance in a small frame.   

This review will examine if this tablet lives up to its hype by evaluating its design, performance, screen, and overall value.

Design and Build Quality

The iPad Mini 7 stays true to Apple’s sleek and minimalist design language, with smooth curves and a thin profile that makes it easy to hold and slip into a bag. Available in new color options, including blue and purple, Apple has injected a bit of fun into the aesthetics without straying from its professional appeal.

As we’d expect from Apple, the build quality is superb. If you need a device that can handle a few bumps along the way, the tablet is impeccable. It’s light, but it feels hardy. It’s very portable—it’s only 6.4 mm thick and a little over 293 grams—and can fit in a purse or even a large coat pocket. Students, travelers, and professionals who are always on the go will surely love it how lightweight it is.

The edge-to-edge display and slim bezels provide a modern look, while Touch ID is embedded in the power button for easy, secure unlocking. Though the design doesn’t depart radically from the previous generation, the iPad Mini 7 remains a well-crafted device that balances functionality and style.

Display Quality

Featuring a resolution of 2266 x 1488 pixels, the 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display of the iPad Mini 7 offers vivid and clear images. With better color accuracy and brightness levels that reach up to 500 nits, Apple has kept the same high-quality display from the last generation. This means that it can be used even in bright places.

If you like to watch movies, look through photos, or read, you will appreciate this one. You won’t get tired eyes from staring at a screen for hours on end thanks to the True Tone technology, which automatically adapts the display’s temperature to the surrounding light. Although it might not be as immersive as Apple’s bigger tablets, the small size makes it perfect for holding in one hand. It’s a ideal solution for people who need a small device.

If you’re an artist, you’ll love how well the display pairs with the Apple Pencil—especially the new Apple Pencil Pro, which has better pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition. The screen is smooth and responsive, so it can be used for drawing, taking notes, and other artistic activities.

Performance and A17 Pro Chip

One of the most significant upgrades in the iPad Mini 7 is the shift from the A15 Bionic chip to the powerful A17 Pro chip. This tablet is now a formidable opponent for performance-driven jobs, thanks to the new chip’s 30% improvement in CPU performance and 25% improvement in GPU performance.

With 8GB of RAM, double the previous generation’s memory, the iPad Mini 7 excels in multitasking and demanding applications. Apps load quickly, and you can run several of them at once without noticeable slowdowns. The A17 Pro chip also improves the tablet’s capabilities in gaming, handling high-end graphics and complex gameplay smoothly, even in graphically intensive games like “Genshin Impact” or “Call of Duty Mobile.”

For productivity tasks, the A17 Pro’s more powerful processor works with Apple’s AI-powered features, such as Writing Tools (for editing and reviewing text) and Clean Up (for cleaning up photos). Because it has these features and better AI processing, the iPad Mini 7 can be a trusted tool for work, even for people who use more demanding apps.

One more important benefit is that the A17 Pro’s battery life is better. The battery size stays the same, but the A17 Pro chip makes better use of power, so you can use it for longer on a single charge, especially when doing simple things like browsing the web or editing documents.

Software and User Experience

Running on the latest version of iPadOS, the iPad Mini 7 takes full advantage of Apple’s ecosystem and software optimizations. With enhanced multitasking features, you can now use Split View and Slide Over more effectively, switching between apps smoothly, a boon for users who juggle multiple tasks.

It is easy to work on papers, presentations, and spreadsheets on the iPad Mini 7 because it works well with Apple’s productivity tools. The device works with the Apple Pencil Pro, which lets you use advanced features like tilt recognition and pressure sensitivity. This is helpful for artists, designers, and anyone who likes taking notes by hand.Apple’s AI-driven features are particularly impressive on the iPad Mini 7.  Writing Tools can be used by both students and professionals because it can check your grammar and summarize what you read. At the same time, the A17 Pro chip’s neural engine makes it easy to modify photographs using the Clean Up feature in photo editing.

Camera and Audio

You can take good shots, videos, and video calls with the iPad Mini 7’s 12MP rear camera and 12MP Ultra-Wide front camera. While the camera setup isn’t as advanced as on Apple’s flagship devices, it’s more than adequate for general use.

FaceTime, Zoom, and other video-calling apps benefit greatly from the front-facing camera’s Center Stage feature, which automatically maintains your center position throughout calls even if you move around. The audio quality is solid, with dual speakers that offer a surprising amount of volume and clarity for such a compact device.

Since the stereo speakers have decent separation, you will likely to enjoy playing media without headphones. Even though the speakers on the iPad Mini 7 aren’t as depth as those on bigger iPads, they’re still pretty good for their size, so you should be able to enjoy music, podcasts, and movies with satisfactory audio quality.

Connectivity and Accessories

Apple has upgraded the iPad Mini 7 with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, bringing faster, more reliable connectivity and improved performance with compatible peripherals. The USB-C port now supports up to 10Gbps data transfer speeds, double what was available in the previous model, which is particularly beneficial for professionals who transfer large files regularly.

As I already said, the tablet’s ability to work with the new Apple Pencil Pro is a further advantage about it. It makes writing and taking notes more accurate. The advanced features of this accessory, such as pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition, make the iPad Mini 7 good for taking notes and being creative. The tablet’s adaptability is further increased by supporting a variety of USB-C peripherals, including hubs, keyboards, and external storage devices.

Battery Life and Charging

Just to reiterate, the iPad Mini 7 offers similar battery life to its predecessor, but with the A17 Pro’s efficiency improvements, users can expect slight gains in battery duration. Apple claims up to 10 hours of web browsing or video playback on a single charge, and in real-world usage, this estimate holds up well for most users.

The USB-C charging port allows for faster charging, bringing the iPad Mini 7 to a full charge in about 2-3 hours with a compatible fast charger. This is a significant improvement for users who need a quick recharge during busy days.

The battery life is particularly strong during light tasks like reading, browsing, and document editing. However, more intensive tasks like gaming or video editing will drain the battery faster, though the A17 Pro chip’s efficiency helps mitigate this to an extent.

A15 Bionic vs. A17 Pro: Is it worth upgrading? 

Getting the new iPad Mini 7 with the A17 Pro chip is better than getting the old A15 Bionic model in a number of ways: Here is a summary and overview of the topics we covered above.

Performance Improvements

• • Processor Upgrade: The A17 Pro chip delivers a 30% boost in CPU performance and a 25% increase in GPU performance compared to the A15 Bionic, resulting in smoother multitasking and improved graphics handling.
  • Increased RAM: The iPad Mini 7 comes with 8GB of RAM, doubling the 4GB found in the iPad Mini 6, facilitating more efficient multitasking and better performance with demanding applications.

Enhanced Features

• • Apple Intelligence Support: The A17 Pro chip enables compatibility with Apple Intelligence, introducing AI-driven features like Writing Tools for proofreading and summarizing text, and Clean Up for photo editing.
  • Apple Pencil Pro Compatibility: With improved features like pressure sensitivity and tilt detection, the new model works with the Apple Pencil Pro and makes the experience better for artists and people taking notes.

Connectivity Upgrades

• • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: The iPad Mini 7 supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, providing faster and more reliable connections compared to the previous model’s Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.
  • USB-C Port: The USB-C port now supports 10Gbps data transfers, doubling the previous speed, facilitating quicker data transfer and improved peripheral connectivity.

Storage Options

• • Increased Base Storage: The base storage has increased from 64GB to 128GB, with additional options of 256GB and 512GB, accommodating more apps and media.

Considerations

• • Design Similarity: The iPad Mini 7 retains a design similar to its predecessor, with an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and slim bezels.
  • Price Point: The starting price for the new model is $534 at Amazon (WiFi only model, no cellular), which is more than the previous model’s launch price but comes with more features.

It’s worth it to upgrade to the iPad Mini 7 if you require better speed, more AI features, and better connectivity. But if your current iPad Mini 6 works well enough for you and sufficient for your needs, the upgrade may not be essential.

The Bottom Line

The iPad mini 7 truly lives up to its “pocket rocket” moniker. Apple has crammed impressive power and a gorgeous display into an incredibly compact design. While it may not be a revolutionary leap from its predecessor, the refinements across the board make it a compelling upgrade for both new users and those with older mini models. 

Thanks to the robust A17 Pro chip, enhanced memory, and advanced connectivity options. It offers a special blend of portability and power. 

It’s good to see that Apple has found a good mix between performance and portability. While the iPad Mini 7’s small form factor may not suit everyone, it’s an excellent device for those who need a powerful tablet on the go.  It’s best ideal for digital artists, readers, and casual gamers.

Because of its improved performance, beautiful screen, and long battery life which make it a joy to use, I am more than satifisfied enough. 

Though the price might be a hurdle for some, the iPad mini 7 delivers a premium tablet experience that’s hard to match in its size class.  It justifies its price because it has a top-notch hardware and a seamless user experience in the Apple ecosystem that make it worth the extra money.