7 Things Early Reviewers Love (and Hate) About the New iPad mini

Apple this week refreshed one of its most beloved iPads. On Monday, the company debuted a new iPad mini — the first update to the product in several years. And while it may not be an “iPad mini Pro,” it’s shaping up to be a capable smaller tablet.

That’s a sentiment pretty shared across the board in early critical reviews of the device. While we won’t know the whole story until consumers start getting their hands on it, here are seven things that early reviewers love (and hate) about the new 7.9-inch tablet.

Love ?? The Performance

Apple makes the fastest smartphones on the market, thanks in no small part to the beastly A12 Bionic chip. That’s the same chip that the new iPad mini packs.

In other words, it’s not a small spec bump. Early critical reviews suggest that the iPad mini can handle almost any kind of task thrown at it. From augmented reality experiences to photo editing in Adobe Lightroom. Wired's review even claims that the iPad mini's performance makes it fairly futureproof.

You might not expect so much performance in such a small form factor (and such a dated design). So keep all of your tabs open and play some Fortnite on the side — none of that will phase the new 7.9-inch Apple tablet.

Hate ? The Aging Design

The iPad mini, arguably, had one of the best form factors for a 7.9-inch tablet way back in 2012. But now, a bit over seven full years later, that form factor is looking really outdated.

Users who wanted a sleek new iPad mini with the iPad Pro treatment will come away disappointed. The new iPad mini is familiar — a little too familiar. Pretty much every early reviewer has echoed that.

Some may appreciate fingerprint-based authentication and an actual Home button, but it’s tough to deny that the iPad mini’s bezels are pretty massive for 2019.

Love ?? The Size

There was a point in time when the iPad mini’s future seemed uncertain. It’s not all that big with a 7.9-inch display — and there were rumors that it might be sized out of its own category by smartphones that are only getting bigger by the year.

Yet the iPad mini has stubbornly clung to its form factor — and many people will love it because of it. It’s extremely portable, lightweight, and easy to use with one hand. Not all devices need to be huge, and the new iPad mini is a testament to that fact.

In fact, at least a few reviewers have touted the iPad mini as the best small tablet currently on the market. While that’s mainly because its competitors err on the cheap or cheesy side, it’s still worth noting if you’re in the market for a svelte tablet.

Hate ? First-Gen Apple Pencil

The Apple Pencil used to be a pro-level exclusive. That’s no longer the case with Apple’s latest slate of iPads. The 2019 iPad mini, like the 9.7-inch entry-level iPad, supports the Apple Pencil.

But there’s an important distinction to be made here. The 2019 iPad mini only supports the first generation of the Apple Pencil, not the objectively superior second-generation. As The Verge’s Nilay Patel points out, the first-gen Apple Pencil was never a “triumph of design.”

You’ll probably end up losing the cap, and it doesn’t magnetically clip to the side of the iPad for storage and charging. Apple Pencil support is a welcome feature, the fact that it only supports the first generation stylus may dampen the excitement a bit.

Love ?? The Display

The 2019 iPad mini sports the same high-resolution display (326ppi) as its predecessor, but compared to Apple’s higher-end tablets, it's missing some features like ProMotion (Apple’s refresh-rate tech that makes for buttery smooth scrolling on the new iPad Pros).

However, the iPad mini still has a commendable display. It’s an LCD display made by Apple. That means it’s great in the way that Apple’s LCD displays have always been. But it isn’t just the same display as the old iPad mini — there are a few upgrades here, too.

It packs 500 nits of brightness, wide color gamut support, and screen lamination. The colors will be more vibrant, and the display also features Apple’s True Tone technology. Based on what the iPad mini may be used for, that’s a welcome feature for frequent ebook readers and simple note-takers.

Hate ? Lack of USB-C

New Macs have USB-C. The iPad Pro has USB-C. But Apple’s smartphones and its cheaper tablets have stuck with Lightning, despite rumors that the first-party charging mechanism was on the chopping block.

That may end up being a problem for users who have already begun switching to USB-C in their own setups. And it signals that Lightning is here to stay for at least a couple more years. Say what you will about it, but USB-C is still a superior port standard. (But hey, there's a 3.5mm headphone jack still.)

This isn’t all bad, however. While Apple (and the entire industry) is moving toward USB-C, there are undoubtedly tons of users who still rely on Lightning-based accessories. But with Lightning potentially on its way out, the lack of USB-C support seems like a downside.

Mixed?The Price

The new iPad mini, despite sporting some serious upgraded internals, clocks in at the same price point as its predecessor: $399. That’s a good value for the price, but it also makes choosing which iPad to buy a bit more confusing.

It’s only about $70 more than the entry-level iPad, which has a bigger screen but slower performance. (The iPad mini is now the cheapest way to get the A12 Bionic.) Similarly, the iPad mini is $100 less than the iPad Air — which is just as fast and offers much more screen real estate.

It all comes down to what you want in a tablet. If small and portable is your style, then it’s hard to go wrong with the iPad mini. If you want a tablet that’s less like an iPhone XS Max and more like an iPad, then the iPad Air may be the better choice.