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Three days before its release, the first reviews of the new iPad mini are in. The OLED display is universally well-received, but almost all reviewers have the same complaint. Battery life, however, varies widely.
On November 6, the iPad mini with A20 Pro, the latest generation of the iPad mini lineup, goes on sale, in Germany starting at 749 euros. Since November 3, the first reviews have been online, including from Engadget, TechRadar, Macworld, and Gizmodo. They are joined by impressions from MacRumors after about a week and from 9to5Mac.
The reviewers almost unanimously describe the device as a major upgrade. Their criticism focuses on the refresh rate and the price.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The OLED display is considered the biggest improvement, while the 60 Hz refresh rate is seen by almost all testers as the biggest weakness.
- Performance is not an issue for the testers; the lead over its predecessor is significant.
- The laboratory results for the battery show 10:10 and 14:24 hours side by side, depending on the test procedure.
- The tests contradict each other regarding the sound of the new speakers.
- The 512GB model has one more efficiency core and double the Neural Engine.
This is how the verdicts turn out
| Test | Verdict | Battery life |
|---|---|---|
| Engadget | 8.5 out of 10 | Approximately 5 to 6 hours with heavy use, close to 10 hours with lighter tasks; battery test still pending |
| TechRadar | 4.5 out of 5 | 14:24 hours in lab tests, predecessor 10:36 hours |
| Macworld | 4 out of 5 | 10:10 hours of video at 200 nits |
| Gizmodo | 4 out of 5 | a whole day of surfing and streaming |
| Man of Many | Recommendation, not a grade | 9.5 to 10 hours of active use, around 8.5 hours over 5G |
Kyle Barr from Gizmodo goes the furthest, declaring the smallest iPad his first choice:
If I had to choose just one iPad from Apple's lineup, I would always choose this small one.
TechRadar calls the device an "absolute joy" to use. Engadget considers the price increase fair, but questions whether it's worth the upgrade for most buyers.
OLED is impressive, but 60 Hz remains a nuisance
The tests are unanimous regarding the display. The switch to OLED brings significantly better contrast and deeper blacks; according to Apple, the brightness also increases to 600 nits in everyday use and 1,200 nits with HDR. The display grows from 8.3 to 8.5 inches thanks to narrower bezels.
Almost all reviews criticize the iPad mini for remaining at 60 Hz and lacking ProMotion. Man of Many calls this a strange omission for a Pro-level chip, while 9to5Mac describes it as incredibly frustrating. Gizmodo, on the other hand, believes that 120 Hz is something most buyers wouldn't even notice or use.
Opinions are mixed regarding the optional nanotexture glass, available from 256 GB upwards. Engadget and TechRadar praise its performance in bright light. Gizmodo would prefer the device without it, as the glass diminishes some of the best qualities of OLED. 9to5Mac observes only a very slight loss in color vibrancy.
The chip is fast, but the measured values differ
The A20 Pro leaves little to be desired in tests. Macworld reports around 50 percent more CPU performance than the A17 Pro and 180 percent more GPU performance, without specifying the test program or model. TechRadar's Geekbench 6 scores are significantly higher, with 4,720 points in single-core and 12,697 in multi-core, compared to 2,829 and 6,938 for its predecessor.
TechRadar's results are from the 512GB model. With 128GB and 256GB, one efficiency core is missing, there are 5 CPU cores instead of 6, and only one Neural Engine instead of two. 9to5Mac still recommends choosing storage based on need, not CPU capacity. Gizmodo also observes that performance drops under the Smart Folio, presumably due to heat dissipation.
Engadget ran Control and No Man's Sky without any issues, and according to Xcode, the device has 12 GB of RAM. However, Gizmodo still recommends a larger iPad for productive work, as the small display can only accommodate a maximum of two windows side-by-side.
Battery and speaker: The tests contradict each other
The battery life figures in the table cannot be directly compared because each test uses different methods. TechRadar's 14 hours and 24 minutes are from their lab test, while Macworld achieved 10 hours and 10 minutes with video playback at 200 nits, which corresponds to Apple's claim of up to 10 hours. Engadgets' 5 to 6 hours is based on heavy use; they have yet to conduct a full battery test.
The battery is smaller than its predecessor, with Apple stating 18.9 Wh instead of 19.3 Wh. Despite this, the EU data sheet shows a battery life of 78 hours in the test cycle, compared to 67 hours previously. It also charges faster: Apple claims that with a 35-watt power adapter, it can reach 50 percent charge in approximately 30 minutes (the adapter is not included).
Opinions are divided on the sound of the new Acoustic Display speakers. Engadget says the predecessor sounds tinny in comparison, TechRadar is impressed, and 9to5Mac calls the sound good. Macworld, on the other hand, still considers the new speakers tinny, while MacRumors sees them as roughly on par with the predecessor and in some aspects even better.
What the iPad mini is worth it for despite its 60 Hz refresh rate
From the reviews, I primarily see a recommendation for users who really want a small tablet. According to TechRadar, those who want to read, watch shows, or take notes will get the best iPad mini yet. For extended work sessions, Gizmodo and Macworld recommend a larger iPad.
The price of €749 seems to me to be a bigger hurdle than the 60Hz refresh rate. Whether the upgrade is worthwhile depends heavily on the starting device, as the comparison with the A17 Pro model shows. MacRumors especially recommends the switch to owners of an iPad mini 6 or older.
According to Man of Many, the iPhone Duo does not replace the iPad, and within theiPad lineup, the mini remains the device for those who find an iPad Air too large.
Would you buy the iPad mini with a 60Hz refresh rate, or is that your limit at €749? Tell us in the comments whether you're going to buy it or wait.
