iPad mini 6 extended-use review – There’s no substitute for portability [Video]
I’ve been using Apple’s dramatically redesigned iPad mini for about two months now, and my biggest takeaway is that it’s a great device for reading and note taking. But as you’ll see in my iPad mini 6 extended-use review, it’s not without compromise.
Although the 2021 iPad mini isn’t without its flaws, its strengths – namely, portability and pound-for-pound capability – have made it an integral part of my workflow. Should you consider making it a part of your technology stack? Is it worth the 100 price increase over the outgoing model? Watch my hands-on video as I discuss the merits of Apple’s pint-sized tablet after some extended usage.
The obvious things
The 6th-generation iPad mini is extremely small, but that is immediately obvious. The tablet is shorter than the 5th generation iPad mini, fitting into a more compact form factor, yet it features a larger screen (8.3 inches) with more resolution than its predecessor (7.9 inches).
This screen size increase inside a smaller form factor isn’t a new phenomenon for modern Apple devices, and it’s one that we’ve seen before in redesigns of the iPhone and the larger iPad tablets. The so-called edge-to-edge display makes it possible to cram a larger screen area inside a smaller surface area, which contributes to the device’s increased portability. That said, the iPad mini is slightly thicker than the outgoing model, and eschews the tapered edges that previously helped mask thickness in favor of flat edges.
Apple offers the iPad mini 6 in four hues, including the standout starlight color, which is like a subtle mix of gold and silver. Additional hues include pink, purple, and, of course, the dusty and worn-out space gray.
Video: iPad mini 6 extended-use review
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And after using the 2021 iPad Pro and now the iPhone 13 Pro Max on a regular basis, one of the things about the iPad mini that stands out like a sore thumb is the lack of ProMotion. ProMotion is Apple’s marketing name for its variable refresh rate technology, which can ramp up or scale back the display’s refresh rate according to what’s happening on screen.
One of the key benefits of ProMotion, besides less impact on battery life when the refresh rate throttles down, is the super-smooth experience when scrolling through text-heavy websites and documents. On the iPad mini’s display, the lack of ProMotion makes text appear blurry when scrolling, not to mention the so-called jelly scroll effect that’s common on LCD displays.
Of everything that the iPad mini may lack when compared to its bigger brothers, ProMotion is the feature that I miss the most by far. Even after extended usage with the iPad mini, the lack of ProMotion was still readily apparent when scrolling through text.
A solid electronic reader
At just 0.65 pounds (Wi-Fi model), the featherweight iPad mini, at 7.69 inches tall, 5.3 inches wide, and 0.25 inches thick, is a portable powerhouse. Compare that to the iPhone 13 Pro Max’s 0.52-pound weight, and it’s easy to see why the iPad mini 6th-generation is a beacon for portable productivity.
What I most appreciate about the iPad mini is just how balanced it is. The way the 0.65 pounds is spread throughout the device makes the tablet easy to hold with one hand – even with just a few fingers – which makes it work well for extended reading sessions.
Over the past two months, I’ve been using the iPad mini as my full-time reading device, using it to catch up on my Feedbin feeds, eBooks, website articles, Apple News, etc. One can debate the merits of e-ink technology found in Kindle devices over LCD technology, but this is my preferred reading device due to its wealth of capability combined with a relatively large display in such a compact and light chassis.
Writing, note taking, and artistry
In addition to reading, the iPad mini 6 is also a more capable note-taking device, thanks to the arrival of second-generation Apple Pencil support. To be clear, the previous 5th-generation iPad mini sported Apple Pencil support as well, but only for the older rounded-style first-gen Apple Pencil.
One of the biggest issues with the first Apple Pencil was that it was hard to keep up with unless you owned a case that included a for storage. The second-generation Apple Pencil features enhanced functionality, but most importantly, it magnetically attaches to the long side of the iPad mini for storage, and to facilitate pairing and recharging. Having the Apple Pencil attached to the side of the iPad mini means that it’s always available, which greatly ups the likelihood of it actually being put to use.
Unlike the bigger iPad models, the iPad mini isn’t great for long-form typing, as there’s no first-party attachable keyboard, and the virtual keyboard is way too small for long-form projects. But again, this serves to elevate the value of the Apple Pencil, which can be used for text input using iPadOS features like Scribble.
Throughout the last month, I found myself using the Apple Pencil to write notes, annotate video scripts, and create storyboards for upcoming video ideas in the Notes app. Artists may particularly enjoy having a portable digital canvas using popular apps like Procreate, Linea Sketch, Affinity Designer, and more.
Granted, the iPad mini lacks the screen real estate for someone who may want a tablet primarily for artistry, but its portability makes it a great travel companion for artists who often find themselves inspired while out and about.
USB-C flexibility
One of the biggest new additions to come to the iPad mini is the adoption of USB-C connectivity. Not only is USB-C used for recharging the iPad mini, but it also features faster USB 3.1 (Gen 1) 5Gbps connectivity for speedy offloading of photos and videos. It’s not as capable as the iPad Pro, which features faster Thunderbolt connectivity and works with a wider away of products, but even plain old USB 3.1 opens up a litany of peripheral options at more usable speeds.
With a single USB-C cable you can easily connect external drives, microphones, audio interfaces, and more. Having this sort of flexibility present in the I/O removes workflow roadblocks associated with iPads sporting Apple’s slow and outdated Lightning connector. Especially for photographers and videographers, who regularly offload photos and videos, the presence of the ubiquitous USB-C connector makes a huge difference in productivity.
iPadOS 15 should also not be overlooked in this area, because it features an upgrade to the file transfer interface, with Finder-like time remaining statistics that are clearly inspired by the Mac. Having better insight into in-progress file transfers is priceless when transferring large files to and from the iPad mini.
Camera and video
The 12MP ƒ/1.8 camera on the iPad mini 6 presents a significant improvement over the 8MP ƒ/2.4 camera in the iPad mini 5. Not only does the camera feature a 50% boost in resolution, but it also gathers more light, resulting in cleaner photos and videos with less noise. The small size of the iPad mini makes it easier to shoot with than larger iPads. I don’t regularly take photos or videos on my iPads, but in a pinch, and more importantly, with the right lighting conditions, it’s quite doable.
Like its direct predecessor, the iPad mini 6 Liquid Retina display maxes out at 500 nits of brightness, meaning that it doesn’t support HDR video playback. This won’t be a big deal for most people, but for me, someone steeped in HDR workflows, it’s one of the first things I noticed about the iPad mini’s display, and it’s still something I miss after extended usage.
The lack of brightness capability also means that HDR videos shot on an iPhone 13 or iPhone 12 cannot play back in full HDR luminance when viewed on the iPad mini 6. Again, this probably isn’t a huge deal for the majority of people, but it will be quickly noticed by people who care for such things.
Regarding the camera, one of the most impressive technologies is support for Center Stage with the front-facing camera. Center Stage, which is specifically designed for video calls like FaceTime and even third-party apps like Zoom, automatically pans the camera to keep you centered in the frame. As you move about the frame, the camera moves with you, and as multiple people appear inside the frame, the camera will zoom out to ensure that each subject is well represented.
Obviously, there is no moving camera with variable focal length inside of the iPad mini, so Apple makes the Center Stage effect happen via a wider camera, clever software tricks, and machine learning powered by the A15 Bionic’s faster Neural Engine. It starts with the new ultra-wide 12MP camera with 122-degree field of view, compared with the wide-angle 7MP camera found in previous iPad mini models.
Thanks to the huge increase in the field of view and greater resolution, Center Stage can capture a larger scene area and use machine learning to digitally pan around the frame without a drastic loss in resolution. Although I was sure this feature would be a gimmick when I first tried it on the iPad Pro, I ended up loving it. It lends a dynamic look and feel to video calls that make them feel less static and robotic, and I especially appreciate this during the video call renaissance that the world has gone through recently.
Everything else
In the past, I’ve usually started my iPad reviews by raving about the performance and talking about the latest system on a chip. However, after using the iPad mini for well over a month, specs tend to take a back burner, and overall usability comes to the forefront.
The iPad mini 6 is a major step forward in performance over the 5th-generation model. And, as mentioned, the iPad mini is indeed slightly faster than its larger brethren, the iPad Air.
With the A15 Bionic’s slightly increased GPU performance over the A14 in the iPad Air, most Apple Arcade games run great, but almost no one should buy the iPad mini solely as a gaming machine. Considering that the entry-level iPad mini with 64GB of storage costs as much as modern-day flagship consoles, it’s not a good buy for that purpose. However, if gaming is a secondary use case, the iPad mini makes for a solid portable gaming machine, especially for those who subscribe to Apple Arcade.
For watching videos and even editing videos via apps like iMovie and LumaFusion, the iPad mini 6, with its 8.3-inch display, provides a better experience than an iPhone 13 Pro Max, for instance. But the iPad mini is only available in either 64GB or 256GB configurations, which can quickly fill up when working with high-fidelity ProRes video. Couple that with the 500 nits max brightness, and it’s clear that Apple thinks serious video editors should opt for its pro-designated tablets instead.
A few other things: There are stereo speakers, which are available when the device is oriented into landscape mode. The speakers are nowhere near iPad Pro level, but they are good enough for such a pint-sized device. You do, however, lose access to the 3.5mm headphone jack found on the previous iPad mini. While this omission won’t affect most users, if you have a tried-and-true workflow that depends on the headphone jack, it’s something to take into consideration before purchasing.
5G connectivity is also an option, although I purchased the Wi-Fi-only model. Apple charges a hefty 150 premium for 5G capability, which I couldn’t justify based on how I’ve been using my iPad mini. With that being said, there’s a certain sense of freedom that you get from a cellular-enabled iPad, not to mention a faster 5G cellular-enabled iPad. If you plan on using your mini on a regular basis while traveling, opting for the cellular model makes perfect sense.
Conclusion
The iPad mini 6 is hands-down the best portable tablet on the market today. It’s a portable device that can pretty much do everything well, but it isn’t necessarily amazing in any one area. For example, it’s a wonderful reading device because of its large screen and lightweight, balanced design, but it suffers due to the lack of ProMotion. And the screen is larger than the iPad mini 5, but there’s no jump in screen fidelity, color, or brightness.
It’s also a powerful mobile video solution, but it lacks the higher-end storage tiers, more capable Thunderbolt connectivity, and HDR playback.
One thing I failed to mention was battery life, which Apple touts as being all-day capable. I don’t use my iPad mini in that way for hours on end, but a single charge has regularly lasted me for several days of intense reading and note-taking. I was more than satisfied with the battery life, and I think if you’re reasonable in your expectations, you will be as well.
The one area where the iPad mini particularly excels is in its note-taking capability, largely thanks to the support for the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, which attaches magnetically to the side of the tablet. But with that said, it lacks the screen real estate that some artists and note-takers might desire.
All in all, the iPad mini is an amazing device for portability, and it’s really the only option for those looking for a portable tablet with class-leading software support, that can do pretty much everything that its more powerful brothers and cousins can do. However, with that portability comes compromises in various areas. Personally speaking, I’m more than willing to live with those compromises, because there’s nothing that comes close to the iPad mini in a comparable form factor.
Because of the iPad mini’s portability, I found that I was more willing to take it with me while traveling, because why not? It can easily fit inside my glove box or center console when not in use. I can even fit it easily inside of an oversized coat Because of its size and weight distribution, I also find that I prefer to use it over the iPad Pro when reading in bed.
Even if you already own the 5th-generation iPad mini, I think it’s a worthwhile upgrade. You get a much faster tablet, support for a much better pencil, a larger display, and 5G connectivity as an option. That makes the iPad mini 6 a pretty good upgrade over the older mini models.
What are your long term thoughts on iPad mini 6? Sound off down below in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев with your thoughts.
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Reasons Why Your Next iPad Should Be Cellular
In the market for a new iPad? Here are all the reasons we think a cellular iPad is worth the extra expense.
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Apple’s iPads have really grown up in the past few years. A cellular iPad lets you merge a laptop’s power with a smartphone’s connectivity, and it all comes in a super-portable package.
They’re a lot more than just Netflix machines. But whether you use your iPad for fun or productivity, choosing a cellular model lets you turn your tablet into a do-anything, go-anywhere device.
It’s easy to get stuck deciding between a Wi-Fi and a cellular iPad, so here are our top six reasons why we think your next iPad should be cellular.
You Have Plenty of Options
When it comes to picking out a cellular iPad, there’s no shortage of choices. Every iPad model has a cellular version available. Better yet, all of Apple’s latest iPads are 5G enabled, allowing you to access the full speed of the 5G network.
But keep in mind that the additional capabilities of cellular iPads aren’t free. Cellular iPads cost more. If you’re choosing between a cellular and a Wi-Fi-only iPad Air, you’ll need to shell out another 150 for the cellular model.
If you’re stepping up to the cellular iPad Pro, it’s another 200 on top of the base price. On top of that, you need to pay for a cellular contract to actually make use of that functionality.
But cellular iPads don’t have to be expensive. If you’re on a budget, older cellular iPads like the iPad mini (5th generation) can get you on the 4G network at the same price as the latest Wi-Fi-only models.
Hotspot Isn’t Always Your Best Option
If Wi-Fi isn’t available, you can always get your iPhone online by connecting to your phone’s hotspot. The iPhone’s hotspot feature, AKA tethering, is when you use your phone’s mobile data to connect another device to the internet. This is a great way to get your iPad online in a pinch, but it’s not always a great long-term solution.
While most carriers offer unlimited data plans for phones, when it comes to tethering other devices, they’re not always so generous. Almost no carriers offer unlimited hotspot data to stop people from using their phone’s mobile data as their home internet connection.
Mobile hotspots aren’t always your best option in terms of data speeds either. Although 5G on phones can be mind-blowingly fast, you probably won’t get that speed when tethering. Most cellular providers will throttle your hotspot data speed. Although your iPhone might have a perfect 5G signal, your hotspot might be slowed down to 4G or even 3G speeds.
But even if you won’t always get the fastest speeds, if you want a reliable connection you can take anywhere, choosing a cellular iPad means you don’t need to rely on hotspots at all.
Only Cellular iPads Have GPS
GPS is one of the most useful features of any Smart device. Gone are the days of pulling out giant paper maps and asking strangers for directions.
Don’t own a Tesla with a giant infotainment screen? No problem, get a car mount and put your iPad on your dashboard. iPads can be a great tool for plotting out directions or planning your next big trip, but only cellular iPads have GPS built in.
In Apple’s manufacturing process for iPads, the GPS module and the cellular module are on the same chip. So, if you don’t get a cellular iPad, it also won’t come with GPS.
If you have a Wi-Fi-only iPad, you can still use Apple Maps or Google Maps, but you’ll have to rely on Wi-Fi positioning instead of GPS. Although it can detect your general location, Wi-Fi positioning isn’t nearly as accurate as GPS.
Cellular iPads Are Great for Work
With the increasing shift to remote work, boardroom meetings have become living room meetings, and many former office workers are becoming full-time digital nomads. As a result, a built-in data connection on your iPad can greatly boost your creative workflow.
iPad mini
The iPad mini is Apple’s smallest tablet device and the latest model features a slim-bezeled design, the A15 Bionic chip, a USB-C port, Apple Pencil 2 support, and more.
Announced in September 2021, the iPad mini is one of the oldest iPads in Apple’s lineup and it is about approaching the end of its product cycle. Apple does not seem to update the iPad mini regularly, leaving up to two and a half years between upgrades. A new model is expected in early 2024, so while this version is 18 months old, we aren’t expecting a refresh in the near future and it is still an okay time to buy for most people. That said, those who prefer to purchase newer devices may want to exercise caution before buying the iPad mini.
While the iPad mini is Apple’s smallest iPad for those who want features like an all-screen design and USB-C in the most portable form factor, users who are looking for a more affordable option should consider the ninth-generation iPad. Starting at 329, the iPad offers many iPad mini features, such as Touch ID and Center Stage, but at a lower price that balances functionality and affordability.
On the other hand, for an iPad with a larger display, there is the 459 10th-generation iPad or 599 iPad Air. The iPad Air features a Smart Connector on its rear to connect to keyboard cases and its larger, 10.9-inch display is better for productivity tasks and media consumption.
Before buying, check out our iPad deals guide, where we keep track of the current best price on the iPad mini, iPad Air, iPad, and iPad Pro.
Contents
- RAM
- Storage Space
Apple introduced the sixth-generation iPad mini in September 2021, two and a half years after the introduction of the previous model fifth-generation. featuring a complete redesign with a larger display, no Home button, the A15 Bionic chip, and a USB-C port.
The iPad mini mirrors the design of the iPad Air with an all-screen design, squared-off edges, and a Touch ID fingerprint scanner in the top power button. The main differences from the iPad Air are the lack of a Smart Connector on the rear and that the volume buttons have been relocated to the top edge of the device. Compared to the prior-generation model, the new iPad mini lacks a Touch ID Home button.
The iPad mini features a larger, 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2,266 by 1,488. The display continues to feature True Tone and P3 wide color, and offers up to 500 nits of brightness.
It is equipped with the A15 Bionic chip, which is a chip that Apple first used in the iPhone 13 lineup, for up to 80 percent better performance than the previous iPad mini. Cellular iPad mini models also can now connect to 5G for the first time.
There is an improved 12MP Wide rear camera with an ƒ/1.8 aperture and the front-facing camera also gets a major upgrade, with a 12MP Ultra Wide camera, featuring Center Stage for video calls.
The sixth-generation iPad mini supports the second-generation Apple Pencil, which magnetically attaches to the side of the tablet for storage, pairing, and charging. It features the same all-day battery life as other iPads, lasting up to around 10 hours.
The iPad mini comes in three new colors, including Pink, Starlight, and Purple, in addition to Space Gray from previous years.
The iPad mini is available to order now and starts at 499 for the 64GB Wi-Fi-only model, going up to 649 for the 256GB model. Cellular models are available for 150 more over the base price of each configuration. The second-generation Apple Pencil that works with the iPad mini is available for 129.
Note: See an error in this roundup or want to offer feedback? Send us an email here.
Reviews
Reviews of the iPad mini have been very positive, praising the slimmer bezels, a USB-C port, a Touch ID power button, a 12-megapixel rear Wide camera, and second-generation Apple Pencil compatibility.
Even with its larger 8.3-inch display, the new iPad mini maintains portable convenience, according to Engadget’s Valentina Palladino, although typing was not a particularly comfortable experience. MacStories editor-in-chief Federico Viticci said that the iPad mini delivers on “my longstanding dream of an iPad Pro/Air-like device in a diminutive form factor, providing a highly portable experience unlike anything else in Apple’s lineup.”
WIRED’s Brenda Stolyar expressed some concerns about battery life, saying that the iPad mini struggles with a large amount of activity, achieving around five hours, which is significantly less than the advertised 10 hours.
For more thoughts on the iPad mini, see our review roundup or collection of unboxing videos.
Design
With the launch of the sixth-generation iPad mini, Apple completely overhauled the design, and now the smallest tablet in the iPad lineup resembles a diminutive version of the iPad Air. The prior version of the iPad mini had thick bezels and a Touch ID Home button, but the new model does away with those in favor of an all-display design.
The iPad mini 6 features an 8.3-inch display, which is larger than the 7.9-inch iPad mini 5’s thanks to the reduction of the bezels around the screen. There is no Home button, so Touch ID has been moved to the power button at the top of the device.
Like the iPad Air, the iPad mini 6 has a body with flat, rounded edges that wrap around the display, with the flat-edged design matching the iPad Pro and modern iPhones. There’s a small bezel all around the iPad mini’s display, but it’s thinner than the prior design at the top and bottom.
The iPad mini measures in at 7.69 inches (195.4 mm) long, 5.3 inches (134.8 mm) wide, and 0.25 inches (6.3 mm) thick, so it’s about the same width and height as the prior model, but it’s 0.2 mm thicker. While the iPad mini 5 had a headphone jack, the iPad mini 6 does not.
As for weight, the iPad mini is Apple’s lightest and smallest tablet, weighing in at 293 grams or 0.65 pounds. Cellular models are just a few grams heavier due to the extra hardware.
The volume buttons have been moved to the top of the device, which is a first for an iPad. The volume buttons are at the top to leave space for a magnetic connector at the side that’s used to charge the second-generation Apple Pencil.
There are speakers at the top and bottom of the iPad mini that provide stereo sound when the iPad mini is used in landscape mode, along with a microphone at the top, and cellular models have a nano-SIM tray on the side. At the back, there’s a single-lens rear camera.
The iPad mini 6 comes in Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight, a color that’s a hybrid between silver and gold.
Touch ID Power Button
The Touch ID power button located at the top of the iPad mini works just like the Touch ID Home button that was available on the iPad mini 5, simply requiring you to rest your finger on it to register your fingerprint.
Touch ID can be used to unlock the iPad, access apps, make purchases with Apple Pay, and more. Touch ID on the iPad mini 6 works in both portrait and landscape orientations.
Holding down on the Touch ID power button allows it to double as a button for activating Siri.
USB-C
Apple has added a USB-C port at the bottom of the tablet to replace the Lightning port, bringing the iPad mini in line with the iPad Air and iPad Pro. With the USB-C port, the iPad mini can be connected to 4K and 5K displays, cameras, and other USB-C devices. The USB-C port supports 5Gbps data transfer and is able to charge an iPhone or Apple Watch with the proper cable.
Display
The iPad mini 6 features an 8.3-inch fully laminated display with a 2266×1488 resolution at 326 pixels per inch. Like the iPad Air, the iPad mini 6 supports Wide color for vivid, true-to-life colors, and it comes with True Tone support.
True Tone adjusts the white balance of the display to match the ambient lighting to make the screen easier on the eyes. If you’re in a room with more yellow lighting, for example, the iPad mini’s display turns warmer in color to avoid a stark contrast between the color of the iPad and the lighting in the room.
There’s also an antireflective coating, and the iPad mini 6 features 1.8 percent reflectivity and 500 nits brightness. Like all iPads, it has a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.
Apple Pencil
The prior-generation iPad mini 5 was compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil, but the updated iPad mini 6 works with the second-generation Apple Pencil that’s also compatible with the iPad Air and the iPad Pro.
A magnetic strip on the side of the iPad mini 6 allows the Apple Pencil 2 to connect to the device and to charge while it’s connected.
A15 Bionic Chip
The iPad mini 6 is equipped with the same 6-core A15 chip that’s in the iPhone 13 models, but it is downclocked to 2.9GHz compared to the 3.2GHz speeds available in the iPhone 13 lineup.
The downclocked chip means the iPad mini is around two to eight percent slower than the iPhone 13 when it comes to CPU performance. In Geekbench tests, the iPad mini 6 has average single-core and multi-core scores of 1,595 and 4,540, respectively. The iPhone 13 sees average single-core and multi-core scores of 1,730 and 4,660, respectively.
Though the chip is not as fast as the chip in the iPhone 13, it is much more powerful than the chip in the prior-generation iPad mini. The iPad mini 6 offers up to 40 percent faster single-core performance and 70 percent faster multi-core performance than the A12 in the prior-generation iPad mini 5.
There are two versions of the A15 chip, one with a 4-core GPU and one with a 5-core GPU. The iPad mini has the 5-core version, which is the same faster and more powerful chip used in the iPhone 13 Pro models. Compared to the prior-generation iPad mini, the iPad mini 6 offers 80 percent faster graphics.
Neural Engine
The 16-core Neural Engine in the A15 is able to perform up to 15.8 trillion operations per second, and it powers features like Cinematic Mode and Smart HDR 3 thanks to the image signal processor.
RAM
The redesigned iPad mini has 4GB RAM, up from 3GB in the prior-generation model. That’s the same amount of RAM that’s available in the iPad Air.
Storage Space
The base iPad mini includes 64GB of storage, and a 256GB upgrade is available. There is no 128GB version.
Rear Camera
The iPad mini 6 includes a single ƒ/1.8 12-megapixel wide-angle rear-facing camera with digital zoom up to 5x, a five-element lens, and quad-LED True Tone flash. It’s an adequate camera and the same camera that’s included with the iPad Air, but it’s not as advanced as the cameras used in the iPhone 13 lineup or the iPad Pro.
Most of Apple’s modern camera features are supported, such as panoramas, Burst Mode, Smart HDR 3, Live Photos, autofocus with Focus Pixels, wide color capture, auto image stabilization, and more.
4K video recording is supported at 24, 25, 30, or 60 frames per second, as is slo-mo video at 120 or 240 frames per second. The iPad mini can also record in 1080p at 30 or 60 frames per second, and it supports continuous autofocus, cinematic video stabilization, and time-lapse video with stabilization.
Front-Facing Camera and Center Stage
There’s also a front-facing FaceTime HD camera with an ƒ/2.4 aperture and a 122 degree field of view. The front-facing camera has the same features as the rear camera, but it also supports Center Stage, a FaceTime feature that Apple first introduced with the iPad Pro.
Center Stage is designed to keep you in FOCUS and perfectly framed when you’re on a FaceTime video call. The wide-angle front-facing camera shows more of the room that you’re in, while the A15 works to keep you front and center even as you move around.
Battery Life
The iPad mini 6 is equipped with a 19.3-watt-hour battery, which is the same battery that was included in the previous-generation iPad mini.
You Should Buy the iPad Mini 6 in 2023
According to Apple, the battery lasts for up to 10 hours when surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video, while cellular models last for up to nine hours of surfing the web on a cellular connection.
Connectivity
The sixth-generation iPad mini includes a 5G chip that allows it to connect to 5G networks, but unlike the 5G iPhone models for the United States, it does not support the fastest mmWave 5G networks. Instead, it is limited to the slower but more widespread Sub-6GHz networks.
mmWave 5G networks are the fastest 5G networks, but mmWave is short-range and can be obscured by buildings, trees, and other obstacles, so its use is limited to major cities and urban areas along with venues like concerts, airports, and other places where a lot of people congregate.
Sub-6GHz 5G is much more widely available and available in urban, suburban, and rural areas across the United States and other countries. For the most part, when you use a 5G network, you’ll be using Sub-6GHz 5G, and at this point in time, mmWave connectivity won’t be missed because of its limited availability.
Cellular iPad mini 6 models are compatible with the following bands: n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79.
LTE connectivity is also available and the iPad mini is compatible with FDD-LTE bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66, and 71 along with TD-LTE bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, and 48.
Those with a cellular iPad mini can use the nano-SIM slot or eSIM capabilities.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
The iPad mini 6 supports 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 technology.
Other Features
The iPad mini is equipped with a three-axis gyroscope, an accelerometer, a barometer, and an ambient light sensor.
How to Buy
The iPad mini can be purchased from the online Apple Store and Apple retail stores. The 64GB iPad mini is available for 499, while the 256GB model costs 649.
The Wi-Fi and Cellular model with 64GB storage is priced at 649, and the 256GB Wi-Fi and Cellular is available for 799.
As of January 2020, Apple is occasionally offering discounted iPad mini 5 models from its refurbished store. Availability of different capacities and colors varies based on available stock. Refurbished iPad mini 6 models are not yet available.
iPad Buyer’s Guide
If you’re trying to figure out which iPad is best for you out of Apple’s current tablet lineup, make sure to check out our iPad Buyer’s Guide, which goes through each of the available options and helps you figure out which iPad will meet your specific needs.
What’s Next for the iPad mini
An unreliable rumor from a Korean leaker has suggested that the next-generation version of the iPad mini will feature ProMotion display technology, allowing for a maximum 120Hz refresh rate. Display analyst Ross Young believes Apple is working on an iPad mini 7, but says the tablet is unlikely to feature ProMotion technology.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple will release an updated version of the iPad mini in early 2024, with no iPad mini update planned for 2023. Kuo says a new processor will be the tablet’s main selling point, with no other major design changes expected.
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- Luxury Gift Box
- Certificate of Authenticity
- Available to purchase with Crypto or Fiat
- Also available in Rose Gold or Platinum
- Lifetime Warranty | Scratch-Resistant Protection
Goldgenie Luxury Samsung customisation
Goldgenie was the first company to customise the Apple iPad range. We have continued to inspire the world with our luxury range of customised smartphones devices ever since.
The Goldgenie 24k Gold iPad range also includes Rose Gold, and Platinum with optional laser engraving of your name, logo, or image.
iPad mini 6 ONE YEAR LATER. still worth it?
For more information please message us here or call 0208 804 6200 international dial 44 208 804 6200.
Rose Gold iPad mini 256GB Cellular and Wi-Fi
The Luxury 24k Gold iPad Pro is customised in genuine 24k Gold by our in-house artisans. Delivery 7 to 14 days from order.
What do I get with my order?
- Rose Gold iPad Mini | SIM FREE
- Free worldwide Delivery via DHL
- Luxury Gift Box
- Certificate of Authenticity
- Available to purchase with Crypto or Fiat
- Also available in Rose Gold or Platinum
- Lifetime Warranty | Scratch-Resistant Protection
Goldgenie Luxury Samsung customisation
Goldgenie was the first company to customise the Apple iPad range. We have continued to inspire the world with our luxury range of customised smartphones devices ever since.
The Goldgenie 24k Gold iPad range also includes Rose Gold, and Platinum with optional laser engraving of your name, logo, or image.
For more information please message us here or call 0208 804 6200 international dial 44 208 804 6200.
Additional information
24k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
Contact Addresses
GoldgenieWenta Business Centre1 Electric AvenueEnfield, EN3 7XU
Contact Numbers
London Head Office : 44 208 804 6200
Dubai Retail Store: 44 7753 420876
- New Gold iPhone 14
- Gold Roses
- Gold iPhone 13
- Gold SHURE Microphones
- Portable Metallizer
- Gold Apple Watch 8
- Apple Watch Straps
- Gold iPad
- Gold iMac
- Samsung
- Luxury Gifts
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Goldgenie Company Number: 07453520 | © Copyright 2022 | All Rights Reserved | London Dubai
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