Ah, the iPad mini 2024! Or as I like to call it, “Starbucks for your lap.” It’s cute, it’s compact, and much like a small puppy trying to horde your attention, it’s hard to resist. But after three years of waiting for an upgrade, one can’t help but feel like we’re looking at a puppy… that already had a bath three years ago!
Now, Apple claims the iPad mini has received a shiny new A17 Pro chip. It’s almost enough to make you dream of midnight gaming sessions and artistic inspiration. But let’s be brutally honest here. If you were expecting a radical redesign, it’s about as disappointing as finding out there’s no alcohol in your friend’s “healthy” smoothie. Visually, the iPad mini hasn’t changed one bit since 2021! It’s like Apple’s motto is “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” while also putting the price through the roof. €609? For a tablet that looks like it time-traveled from 2019? I would expect gold plating at that price!
Now, let’s talk about the *cuteness factor* because apparently, “everything that’s small is cute” – and I’d argue, everything that’s cute is usually accompanied by a hefty slice of realism. The iPad mini is light, easy to carry, and made from recycled materials which, let’s be honest, makes us feel good about our environmental footprint as we cradle this beautiful little piece of technology. But those thick black borders? It’s like wearing high-waisted jeans from three years ago — nostalgic, but oh-so-ugly when everyone else is in skinny fits!
Crazy Performances, But at What Cost?
Now onto the performance! Apple’s A17 Pro chip promises improved efficiency, better battery life, and performance that could make even a snail look speedy. We’re talking a 30% more efficient CPU and gaming optimizations that could make Donald Trump sit down for a round of Assassin’s Creed! Just imagine, calculating your way through math problems while defeating villains—all while ignoring the thick bezels around the screen that remind you this isn’t quite the tablet of the future.
And yes, Apple has added compatibility with the genius that is the Apple Pencil Pro. Now, if that doesn’t scream “we’re charging you for every accessory imaginable” I don’t know what does! Honestly, for anyone who has used that stylus, it’s like adding salt to a really good steak; it’s not necessary, but it just makes things tastier! If you love to draw, you will covet that pencil like a child covets candy in a sweet shop.
But What About the Screen?
Ah yes, here’s the big kick in the shins— the screen. It seems that no matter how much the performance skyrockets, the iPad mini comes with an LCD panel that simply doesn’t cut it in 2024! It’s like attending a birthday party and being served stale cake while everyone else is guzzling champagne. The brightness of 500 nits? In a world where phones are flaunting OLED screens like it’s their job, having an LCD in your iPad feels a bit like showing up to the Met Gala in last year’s fashion. You’re getting side-eyes, my friend!
But, in hindsight, if owning an iPad Mini means enduring just 60Hz, but you also get to do your gaming and editing without latency, well, that’s something, isn’t it? Just remember—life is about compromises, and Apple is standing there ready to charge you for each one of them! Maybe we’ll be the group sharing sad anecdotes about our outdated screens and lack of AI support in a few years, eh?
Price Tag That Resembles a Ransom Note
Finally, let’s pop the balloon on the price—the stratospheric, “I-have-to-take-out-a-loan” amount you have to cough up to enjoy this miniature wonder. €609? Have they completely lost the plot? Like a waiter at a Michelin-star restaurant asking if you want the wine pairing alongside a bottle of vinegar! It’s absolutely absurd! And that’s before one even mentions the added costs involved with purchasing the famous Apple Pencil
In conclusion, the iPad mini 2024 is excellent for its performance and portability, and it embodies everything you’d love about Apple’s devices. However, it’s also a frustrating mix of shortcomings that leave you wanting more. More screen resolution, more features, and maybe a little extra kindness with that price tag! The future of this super cute gadget may be a tad uncertain, but let’s hope it comes with fewer black borders and more pixels for that kind of cash.
So if you’re looking to buy it, just remember: it’s adorable, it’s powerful, but it’s also a bit of a diva. And you’ll need deep pockets to keep her happy!
It took three years for Apple to renew the cutest of its iPads. Like the Apple TV, the iPad mini is one of those unfairly underestimated Apple products. Because on a daily basis, the iPad mini experience is undoubtedly the most pleasant, all brands combined (a daily user says so).
In 2024, the smaller iPad returns in a version apparently similar to the previous generation. Indeed, aesthetically, the iPad mini 2024 does not change one iota compared to the 2021 model. On the other hand, the integration of the new A17 Pro chip helps boost performance, autonomy and experience. iPad mini software. In any case, this is what Apple promises in its discreet press release announcing this new generation.
To find out if she’s telling the truth, we tested the new iPad mini for a few days. If it remains as cute as ever, it suffers from a few flaws that some users may consider prohibitive in 2024.
So, should we be tempted by this iPad mini 2024?
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Yes, for its still so cute and practical format
“Everything that’s small is cute” goes the adage. The iPad mini is material proof of this. If Apple doesn’t change its recipe, it keeps everything that makes this product so special. Thin and light, it is made from recycled materials to meet Apple’s carbon neutrality objectives (established by its major Apple 2030 plan).
Still so pleasant to hold, The iPad mini embodies the best model in terms of mobility. You can slip it into a backpack, a handbag, a bag or even a large coat pocket. However, we regret the integration of its 8.3-inch screen. Still very thick, the black borders give it an old-fashioned appearance which risks becoming a real stain in 2 or 3 years, when Apple should launch the next generation. Too bad, it would have been almost perfect.
Yes, for his crazy performances
© Lemon squeezer
If the design of the iPad mini does not change, its engine gains power. It actually works on the A17 Proa new chip “enabling access to new features, improving power consumption and providing better performance in almost every aspect” explains Apple.
In a few figures, the A17 Pro is:
- a 30% more efficient 6-core CPU than that of the previous generation
- a 5-core GPU offering 25% more performance. It also includes optimizations for games such as Dynamic Caching and ray-tracing, introduced on the iPad Pro.
- a 16-core neural engine allowing iPad mini to accommodate Apple Intelligence while maintaining all-day battery life
Concretely, this new chip alone justifies the adoption of the new generation. If Apple Intelligence is not yet available in Europe (we will come back to this), it allows the iPad mini to combine versatility and mobility. Everything we usually do with an iPad Pro or iPad Air can also be done with the iPad mini, plus the compactness.
Thus, we were able to edit RAW photos in Lightroom, edit short videos or even use creation applications full of AI. All operations are carried out without latency, even with very powerful artificial intelligence tools.
Apple itself has also developed some impressive tools in its internal applications. For example, in Remarksyou just have to pose an operation or a mathematical problem to solve it. The computing power of the chip (CPU + NPU) allows you to obtain instant results. A math teacher’s nightmare.
Remarks is also capable of recognize your writing and reproduce it, even embellish it, to bring homogeneity to the notes. The iPad mini being the most recommended tablet for taking notes, these new features are welcome.
Thanks to game optimizations (notably the Game mode), the iPad mini can also become a small portable console. The A17 Pro chip allows it to run the most demanding games, including AAA games recently added to the App Store (Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Resident Evil, Death Stranding Director’s Cut).
Finally, the A17 Pro allows the iPad mini to maintain good autonomydespite an obvious performance gain. During our 5 days of testing, we only had to recharge the beast twice. This is much better than the day of autonomy promised by Apple, but energy consumption strongly depends on usage.
© Lemon squeezer
The battery melted as soon as we increased the use of very demanding resources such as photo editing, video editing or gaming. On the other hand, fans of series and films will undoubtedly be happy to learn that energy management in video playback is impeccable. You can easily count around ten hours of viewing before exhaustion.
The only downside: charging (via USB-C) is still too slow. If this remains less problematic for a tablet than for a smartphone, we would still have liked a little effort, just to justify the high price.
Yes, for Apple Pencil Pro support
© Lemon squeezer
The iPad mini supports the Apple Pencil Pro, the most sophisticated stylus the brand has ever created. It might be a small thing for you, but for iPad mini users, it means a lot. Because This accessory is essential to fully exploit the potential of the iPad mini.
While the benefits of technology are not particularly felt when taking notes, they transform the experience of drawing or photo editing. Thanks to the new haptic engine, use is more intuitive. A tap on the Pencil Pro allows, for example, to trigger the rotation movement. Thanks to the “Hover” function, you can even see the orientation of the tool used displayed on the screen. A joy for creatives.
© Lemon squeezer
If the Apple Pencil Pro seems oversized for your uses or out of budget, the Apple Pencil also works with the new iPad mini. In any case, we strongly recommend that you equip yourself with a Pencil to accompany the iPad mini, otherwise the experience would prove frustrating, not to mention disappointing.
Non, pour l’absence d’Apple Intelligence
© Lemon squeezer
The integration of the A17 Pro chip allows the iPad mini to accommodate Apple Intelligence… in the United States. AI made in Apple is in fact partially available for users with an American account. Europeans and Asians will have to wait several months before taking advantage of it, if Apple reaches an agreement with the authorities.
As with the latest iPhone 16, this absence gives rise to a feeling of frustration. The main novelty of Apple devices this year lies in the integration of this AI which promises “a new era” according to CEO Tim Cook.
For now, the iPad mini is ready, but we can’t take advantage of it. We will therefore have to make do with a few software optimizations brought by iPadOS 18 such as handwriting recognition, mathematical formulas or, finally, a calculator application that has been in demand for so many years.
No, for its LCD screen
If the absence of Apple Intelligence were to find a positive outcome before the release of the next generation (we hope), The iPad mini’s screen is undoubtedly its biggest weak point.
As with the iPhone 16, Apple has decided to keep a Liquid Retina panel based on LCD technology. If this choice of screen remained acceptable three years ago, it is no longer so today. The figures are stubborn: the brightness of 500 nits proves insufficient for a product intended to be used on the move (i.e. in direct sunlight) and the refresh rate of 60 Hz is unacceptable in 2024.
© Lemon squeezer
Apple fanboys will no doubt be ready to defend their favorite brand body and soul, arguing that 60 Hz is still sufficient. Suppose this is the case in 2024, what will it be in 2026 or 2027? Unlike iPhones, iPad minis are renewed every three years. By then, even users consuming apple juice intravenously will feel frustrated.
They will be even more so The iPad mini presents itself as a device optimized for gaming. However, software optimizations for game mode and the integration of ray tracing are not enough to compensate for the 60 Hz frequency, especially with AAA games available in the App Store. This inconsistency even borders on the absurd.
No, for its stratospheric price
© Lemon squeezer
Assuming that we forgive its two main weaknesses (no Apple Intelligence and no 120 Hz screen), the iPad mini suffers from a fatal flaw: its price much too high.
The iPad mini 2024 in WiFi/128 GB version is offered at 609 euros. An already excessive price given the on-board technologies and the few improvements made compared to the old generation.
Above all, using this special iPad almost necessarily involves accompanying it with an Apple Pencil. So add 89 euros for a classic model or 149 euros for the Pro model, for a total of 698 euros or 758 euros. As it is so small and so cute, a protective shell is not too much either: count around fifty euros depending on the accessory manufacturer chosen. The bill then reached new heights.
The iPad mini is great in many ways, but its price makes it almost inaccessible to the general public. At 150 or 200 euros less, we would recommend it with our eyes closed. Damage.
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Our opinion on the iPad mini 2024
Three years after the excellent iPad mini 6, Apple is renewing its smallest (and most practical) iPad without much fanfare. The integration of the A17 Pro chip is the only notable new feature: it of course brings more power and endurance, but above all it allows the iPad mini to accommodate Apple Intelligence (still unavailable in Europe). Compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro is also welcome.
But much more is needed to justify the 609 euros requested by Apple, excluding Apple Pencil, almost obligatory for the daily use of this very special iPad. For example, we would have liked faster charging or better screen integration. The screen, in fact, is undoubtedly the biggest disappointment of this generation.
By retaining the same technology as the previous version, Apple is shooting itself in the foot: by integrating a Pro Motion screen, the price would have been acceptable. But with an already obsolete screen (imagine in 2/3 years, before the range is renewed), the iPad mini is sold 150 to 200 euros too expensive. It is therefore difficult to recommend it at the moment.
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iPad mini (2024)
From €609
Performances et interface
9.0/10
Autonomy and recharging
9.0/10
We love
- Format still as pleasant
- Careful design
- Optimal performance and autonomy
- Apple Pencil Pro support
- The most versatile iPad on the go
We like less
- LCD screen already obsolete (and in 3 years)?
- Screen edges too thick
- Stratospheric price
