Apple iPad mini: An Impressive Gaming and All-Rounder Device
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Thoughts on the updated iPad mini after a few weeks.
The iPad mini has always been one of Apple's most interesting
devices - a jack of all trades that blends productivity,
mid-range gaming and media capabilities with a screen that
sits smack-bang in the middle of the tech company's stacked
pack. Now, after a number of years, it's been updated once
again and I've spent a pretty surprising few weeks with it.
Straight out of the box you're likely not going to be shocked
to discover that the iPad mini looks pretty much as you'd
expect it to. Makes sense considering the changes between this
iteration and its 2021 predecessor are relatively few. The base
storage has been bumped up, it uses USB-C, and includes
compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro, which turns the
iPad mini in a productivity powerhouse that's capable of
sketching drawings thanks to features like barrel roll.
The 8.3″ screen still looks great with its Liquid Retina
display, but I really would have loved to have seen the
introduction of a 120 Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling
and the introduction of FaceID. Still, the iPad mini remains a
compact formfactor that is comfy in the hands and incredibly
easy to navigate. The size of the mini quickly made it my ideal
choice not just for bedtime viewing or playing, but my daily
commute into the office as well thanks to its much smaller
footprint that could still surpass my Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
One of the biggest updates for gamers though is the inclusion
of the A17 Pro chip - first used inside the iPhone 15 Pro.
Considering Apple has been making some big moves to break into
the AAA market, this is a smart move and easily boosts the
iPad mini's gaming capabilities across the board. Now titles
like Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding
and Assassin's Creed Mirage can all be played via the iPad mini
- something it's older sibling simply couldn't manage.
When it came to actually putting these titles to the test, it
was pretty darn capable as well, with most of my settings listed
towards either medium or high. I did notice a bit of slowdown
when the action got a little too busy, especially for newer
titles like Death Stranding, but for the most part it was
entirely serviceable. That said, if you are looking for premium
performance, this device does lack the extra grunt of the newer
A18 chipset found in the iPhone 16 series, so you are going to
be slightly behind the eight ball.
Move away from the big-name title's though and the iPad mini
shines brighter. I trialled a wealth of games available via a
Netflix subscription (ranging from Deaths Door to GTA Vice City)
and never missed a beat, leaving me to appreciate the extra
screen real estate. The same can be said for Apple's own
oft-forgotten service, Apple Arcade, which has its own titles to
enjoy like Monument Valley and Rise of the Golden Idol, all
tailor-made for touch inputs. And that's not even mentioning how
the iPad mini has become my new Balatro and Pokémon machine
thanks to the introduction of Balatro+ and Pokémon TCG Pocket.
The one downside to all this? Well, even though there's a total
abundance of games available for the iPad mini, actually playing
the larger-scale titles can be slightly more challenging. That's
because the number of controller accessories feels a lot more
limited compared to the iPhone. Mainstays like BackBone and
GameSir just don't open wide enough to fit the form factor,
leaving something like Razer's Kishi Ultra as one if your few
options. Alternatively, Apple does allow you to pair up a
DualSense or Xbox controller to the iPad mini and doing so is
incredibly easy and perfect for household play, it's a lot less
practical for whenever I'm on public transport - the main
scenario for mobile gaming.
Outside of gaming, one of the other big area Apple is pushing is
AI thanks to Apple Intelligence. The only problem with this is
that we're still waiting to actually see how this feature set
develops, with many of the capabilities still waiting in the
wings. So then, is now a good time to invest in the new
iPad mini? Honestly, that answer is going to vary depending on
your use case. It's a tiny wonder that can handle way more than
it has any right to, and unless you're a power user it's probably
going to be just right. The iPad mini now has its own spot on my
bedside table, and imagine it won't be dethroned anytime soon.
The iPad mini is available now from $799. You can grab one from
the Apple Store.
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[Review] Apple iPad mini: An Impressive Gaming and All-Rounder Device