Specs

Since it’s been about a year, let’s refresh ourselves with the iPad mini specs.

• Chip: A17 Pro (same as iPhone 15 Pro)
• Display: 8.3-inch Liquid Retina (326 ppi, 60Hz)
• Camera: 12MP rear, 12MP front
• Charging & Port: USB-C (USB2 speeds)
• Biometrics: Touch ID on the lock button
• Audio: Stereo speakers (top and bottom)
• Accessories: Apple Pencil Pro & Apple Pencil USB-C support

The big change between the mini 6 and the mini 7 was the upgrade to the A17 Pro chip. This was the same chip that was in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and Apple touted it as the Apple Intelligence upgrade. I will say, I use zero Apple Intelligence features. However, the byproduct of that improved chip is not only better overall performance, but also more RAM and stronger efficiencies, which work well alongside the new iPadOS 16 update. This also brought support for the Apple Pencil Pro, which I love!

While the iPad mini is only a year old, the A17 Pro is two years old, but it still holds up great for day-to-day use.

Design

This is where you start to see how the iPad mini is truly just an iPad. First, it’s the size. It fits in most bags, purses, fanny packs, and can even fit in some pants pockets if you want. You can use it with one hand or two. It’s comfortable to use in both portrait and landscape orientations. It truly feels like a larger, denser, and stronger iPhone.

One interesting design choice was the placement of the volume rocker. It sits on top of the iPad mini, where the lock/Touch ID button is located. But what’s nice is that the volume rocker direction will change via software based on the orientation you are holding the iPad. Surprisingly, it works 100% of the time. Then you have TouchID. Personally, I am just not a fan, especially compared to FaceID. The TouchID sensor works perfectly fine, it’s secure, and I have had zero issues. I just prefer FaceID to TouchID. What do you think?

Otherwise, the design is familiar. It fits perfectly into the iPad lineup, and it adopts the industrial design language introduced on the iPad Pro in 2018. I do hope they shrink the bezels a bit with a future iteration, though.

Everyday use and performance

Now that we have the specs and design out of the way, let’s talk about what’s truly important: how I use it. One year in, and the iPad mini 7 is still humming along. It’s fast, responsive, and iPadOS 26 has continued to allow it to evolve. Battery life also remains strong and easily gets us through the day, with standby time being absurdly good. Then, for the price, the display has held up great. Now I do have my Promotion display iPad and iPhone, so it’s hard going back to the slower display, but the way we use the iPad mini makes you forget about the lower refresh rate. But how do I actually use it?

1. Casual iPad use

This is an iPad, so I use it for some content consumption, with YouTube TV, Netflix, regular YouTube, and scrolling Twitter (yes, it’s still Twitter to me). For example, tonight I will probably watch the Miami Dolphins game on the iPad mini while my wife uses the TV. I prefer the iPad mini over the iPad Pro in this case because it feels almost like having a larger phone, making it easier to wield in tablet mode. While the iPad Pro is nearly too big for that couch scenario.

2. Parental use

As a parent who has just welcomed their second child, the iPad mini has been great in so many ways. First is for my four-year-old. There is an abundance of educational content and games that she plays. I play alongside her as well, so it becomes a collaborative experience, and she is not just sitting in a corner on her own with the iPad. I will say, Apple Arcade has some amazing titles for fun and education that I recommend trying. I also never have to worry about an accidental in-app purchase, which is great. There is also the Apple Pencil component, so she is learning to write, draw, and understand what different types of tools are.

Of course, the iPad Pro can do this too, but the iPad Pro is my computer, and the last thing I need is my four-year-old to toss around my $2000 iPad Pro.

Then, for my newborn, we use the Nanit camera ecosystemso we use the iPad mini as our baby monitor to view that camera feed.

3. Family home hub

The iPad mini has also become our smart home hub. We leave it in the living room so anyone can grab it and begin to adjust our smart lights, or thermostat, or view the camera system we have. It’s small enough not to be tedious to use in tablet mode and large enough that the content is a pleasure to view. I will continue to say, that yes, any other iPad or iPhone can also do this. But the form factor is what makes it ideal for these use cases.

We also use the iPad mini to check schedules and add new events that are happening from all aspects. Very easy and simple to share amongst ourselves.

4. How I use it in my workflow

There are numerous ways to utilize the iPad mini in a productivity setting. You can use it to take notes with the Apple Pencil Pro. You can edit photos in Lightroom or Affinity Photo. You can edit podcasts like my good friend Stephen Robles does. But I use it as the central monitor hub when I am recording. I can simultaneously use the iPad as a viewfinder for my Sony a6100 using the monitor+ app, then also have a video feed from my iPhone using the Blackmagic Camera app, and finally have audio going into the Voice Memos app from the Shure SM7 mic. All of that was done on the iPad mini with the new windowing system of iPadOS 26.

The windowing system on the iPad mini can be hit or miss. I can see it being a tad overwhelming on the smaller display, but for my specific use, it has worked wonders. Now, would i edit my videos on there, while having other windows open for reference files and data? Probably not. But it’s cool that it is capable of doing that if you need it.

iPad mini 8 wishlist

While the iPad mini 7 has been great, there are a few things I am hoping they improve on for the next version. I want them to make the iPad mini 8 more of a “Pro” level device with pro-level hardware.

• OLED Display: for richer colors and deeper contrast
• 120Hz ProMotion: once you’ve used it on a Pro, it’s hard to go back
• Faster USB-C or Thunderbolt: for quicker file transfers
• Face ID: would make unlocking far smoother
• Maybe a Smart Connector: even if just for charging docks or simple stands

What would you add to the iPad mini?

Final thoughts

After a year, the iPad Mini 7 has become my most used iPad, not because it’s the best iPad, but because it’s the most useful in the most situations. It’s one of those rare devices that works for not only me but also my wife and kids. And I think that is the major selling point here. Apple sells the iPad mini for $499 but Amazon always has it on sale. I have seen it as low as $399. And if you can find a used iPad mini 6, the experience is relatively the same.

Be sure to catch our video to see all of these use cases in action!

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