iPad mini 7 review: is Apple’s new small tablet a giant leap forward?

Price: From £499 at Apple, from £499 at John Lewis or on contract at O2 

Our rating: 8 out of 10

We like:

• Compact design makes it the perfect size
• Slick performance
• Good battery life

We don’t like:

• The bezels could be slimmer 
• Apple Intelligence AI isn’t fully here yet
• No multi-user support

What is the iPad mini 7?

Officially called the Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) and measuring 8.3 inches from corner to corner, this is the smallest tablet in Apple’s range – albeit not the cheapest. It sits between the iPad Air (M2) and the entry-level iPad (10th generation) in terms of power and price, offering a similar design but in a considerably smaller format. 

The iPad mini (A17 Pro) is the seventh generation of Apple’s compact tablet. It has the same physical design as its predecessor from 2021, which is known as the iPad mini (6th generation). But it makes a few improvements here and there, most notably a bump in power to allow for Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI features due to arrive some time around late 2024.

Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended

Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best product at the best price. No manufacturer ever sees copy before publication and we do not accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more.

How we test tablets

I’ve been reviewing consumer technology for over a decade and I’ve seen and reviewed all of Apple’s latest iPad models, alongside the best tablets in the market from Samsung to Amazon and OnePlus. When I test a tablet, I spend a great deal of time watching content, working on the move, browsing the web, taking notes and playing games in order to test its performance, battery life, processing power and display quality.

I also use the cameras on each tablet I test. On the whole, I wouldn’t recommend using a tablet to take photos as a smartphone typically offers better results. That said, the front camera allows for video calling, while the rear camera can be useful for things like scanning documents or adding images to notes so it’s important a tablet’s cameras are up to those tasks.

Design and usability: 9/10

The Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) has the same design as its predecessor, but that’s by no means a criticism. The iPad mini was redesigned in 2021, shifting to flat edges and a larger screen within the same dimensions as previous models. The fingerprint sensor that used to be in the button under the screen moved into the power button at the top, resulting in symmetrical bezels, and USB-C replaced Apple’s Lightning port at the bottom for charging.

It was a great design in 2021, and it remains exactly that. In fact, I’d go as far as to say this is my favourite iPad for its size and portability. It’s slim, lightweight and small enough to bring pretty much anywhere, fitting neatly onto a train or plane table, as well as very easy to manage one-handed. It’s not as slim as the iPad Pro (M4) and I’d like slimmer bezels around the screen, but it’s lovely and compact and the wider bezels are helpful when you’re watching something, giving you somewhere to put your thumbs.

It of course depends on what you want to do with your tablet, but the iPad mini’s size is perfect for browsing the internet, playing games, catching up on emails and making video calls. For working, you’d be better with the iPad (10th generation) or iPad Air (M2).

Screen quality: 8/10

The iPad mini (A17 Pro) has a 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, and while that means it is LCD rather than OLED, the colours are still rich and vibrant with plenty of pop. I didn’t experience any delay on one side of the display when using this new model in portrait either - sometimes referred to as jelly scrolling - so there’s been an improvement here compared to the 2021 model.

There’s good detail too, whether you’re eyeing up the app icons, or you’re watching your favourite documentary, and you’ll also find good brightness. It’s not as impressive as the iPad Pro (M4) but the Pro is also twice the price and the iPad mini (A17 Pro)’s brightness is still more than sufficient. The resolution is the same as the iPad mini from 2021, and you get an anti-reflective coating too, which is good when using the iPad mini (A17 Pro) near a window.

There’s also support for the Apple Pencil Pro, which launched with the iPad Air (M2) and the iPad Pro (M4), and this is wonderful in use. It’s responsive, snaps on the edge of the iPad mini for quick charging and pairing, and it allows for a number of new functions over the older Apple Pencil (2nd generation), from squeezing to select different options, to a barrel roll making drawing a better experience overall. 

Performance: 8/10

There’s very little to complain about with the iPad mini (A17 Pro) when it comes to performance, much like its predecessor. It offers a smooth and fluid experience, whether you’re scrolling through news feeds or making notes. Apps open quickly, switching between them is no issue, and there’s plenty of power to do the basics, as well as more power hungry tasks, like image editing. 

A game mode offers better responsiveness with wireless accessories and this mode also minimises background activity to sustain the 60Hz refresh rate. It is worth mentioning that the iPad mini (A17 Pro) doesn’t have Apple’s ProMotion tech like the iPad Pro so there’s no support for the adaptive 120Hz refresh rates, but casual gaming is no problem.

Sound quality is good too, with decent performance from the speakers. There’s no headphone jack, which is the norm these days but it also means  you’ll want a pair of AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones if you don’t want everyone to hear what you’re watching or listening to.

Battery life: 7/10

Battery life hasn’t changed on the iPad mini since the 2021 model, though that’s not a huge issue. Apple claims about 10 hours like other iPads, and that’s pretty much on the money in my experience, certainly when it comes to watching video. A two hour film eats around 20 per cent with the brightness at around 40 per cent.

Usually, you might use the iPad mini for a couple of hours here and there, perhaps browsing, taking notes, or watching a film or video. It will get you through a transatlantic flight watching a few movies before you’d need to charge it up though, as I did in my testing.

Turn the brightness up on the screen and the battery depletes a little quicker, and the same applies if you start drawing or taking notes with the Apple Pencil Pro, or indulge in some image editing, but generally, the iPad mini (A17 Pro) will last a working day. 

Charging could be faster though. It’s capped at 20 Watts. That’s not super slow, especially if you charge overnight, but a tad speedier would be welcomed given other tablets like the OnePlus Pad 2 offer over three times the charging speed.

Software and AI: 8/10

The iPad mini (A17 Pro) runs on iPadOS 18, which is simple and easy to use, and for anyone with an iPhone, it’s an interface that will be familiar, but with a couple of small differences and optimisations for the larger screen.

Multitasking is supported like all the other iPads in Apple’s portfolio, though the iPad mini’s smaller screen doesn’t lend itself as well to the split screen as the larger models. You can’t really see either app particularly well in the split screen view, and there’s no multi-user support in iPadOS either, which is a real shame if you are looking for an iPad mini to be a shared tablet.

That said, there are some great features within iPadOS 18, from Smart Script that will automatically tidy up your handwriting in real-time, to Math Notes that will allow you to jot down equations or sums, write an equals sign and have the sum or equation answer appear automatically.

The iPad mini (A17 Pro) supports Apple Intelligence too, just as the iPhone 16 does, though it’s not available properly as yet. You can try some of the features out if you sign up to the iPadOS 18 beta, but the final software will arrive within the next couple of weeks from the time of writing.

It will include features like Clean Up, which will allow you to remove objects or people from images, like Magic Editor on the Google Pixel 9. There are also Writing Tools that can summarise, proofread and help you compose sentences in any apps where you write, like Mail, Notes and Pages. A smarter and more contextualised Siri is also on its way, though honestly, Apple Intelligence is simply a bonus on an already great experience.

Technical specifications

Telegraph verdict

The Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) retains the same design as its predecessor, but it offers a power boost along with a couple of nips and tucks, like faster Wi-FI connectivity and double the base storage. It won’t quite realise its full potential until Apple Intelligence arrives, the bezels could be slimmer, and I’d really like iPadOS to offer support for multi- user profiles. But overall, there’s a lovely, lightweight design, a bright and vibrant display and a smooth and sleek performance. The iPad mini (A17 Pro) is a superb compact tablet that’s perfect for everyday use and very portable.

FAQs

When does the iPad mini 7 come out?

The seenth-generation Apple iPad mini has been available since October 23, 2024. 

How much does the new iPad mini cost?

The iPad mini starts at £499, which is for the Wi-Fi only model with 128GB of storage.  

If you want to be able to get online when there is no Wi-Fi available, the model with cellular connectivity starts at £599 with 128GB storage. Bear in mind you will also need a monthly data plan from your mobile phone provider. 

Both the Wi-Fi only and the Wi-Fi and Cellular models come in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage options.

What are the key features of the iPad mini?

The key feature of the iPad mini (A17 Pro), which is its official name, is that it supports Apple’s version of artificial intelligence, called Apple Intelligence. It also supports Apple Pencil Pro, like the iPad Air (M2) and the iPad Pro (M4), offering a couple of extra functions compared to the previous-generation Apple Pencil which the previous iPad mini supported.

How is the iPad mini 7 different from the iPad mini 6?

There are a couple of differences between the new Apple iPad mini and its predecessor from 2021. The colours options are slightly different, the new model has a processor upgrade that allows for Apple Intelligence, which comes with its own set of features. There’s support for the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 in the new model too. Both transmit more data, more quickly.

The iPad mini (A17 Pro) also has double the storage compared to the 2021 model, starting at 128GB compared to 64GB. There’s support for the new Apple Pencil Pro, whereas the 2021 model only supports the second-generation Apple Pencil. The dimensions, camera capabilities, battery life and display are the same on both iPad minis. 

What is Apple Intelligence?

Apple Intelligence is Apple’s form of artificial intelligence, similar to Google’s Gemini AI and Samsung’s Galaxy AI. It will bring with it a number of features on top of the iPadOS 18 software, including Writing Tools for helping with writing, proofreading and summarising, along with Clean Up for removing unwanted people and objects from your photos. There will also be a more contextualised Siri, though this isn’t expected until early 2025.

What colours is the iPad mini (A17 Pro) available in?

The Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) comes in Purple, Blue, Starlight and Space Grey, like the iPad Air (M2).