The A17 Pro iPad mini's strongest feature is the one Apple left familiar: an 8.3-inch screen in a body much smaller than a standard iPad. It's a useful size for taking a reading into the field, marking a document while standing, or reading when there is nowhere to put a larger tablet down.
In depth
Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) review
Published
Best forpeople who want an iPad that fits a small bag and works as a pocket notebook.
At a glance
- Screen size
- 8.3 inches
- Panel technology
- Fully laminated LED-backlit IPS LCD, P3, 500 nits
- Processor
- Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU
- Storage
- 128GB256GB512GB
- Operating system
- iPadOS
Pros
- Compact format with Apple Pencil Pro support
- Starts at 128 GB with Wi-Fi 6E
Cons
- Limited space for two documents
- Older Apple Pencil 2 does not carry over
Display
- 8.3 inches
- 2266 × 1488
- 60 Hz
The laminated Liquid Retina display keeps text and pen marks close to the glass. A novel or a page of handwritten notes fits the format well. An entire magazine spread or a dense spreadsheet is a different matter. Zooming can make the text legible, but then you spend more time moving around the page.
Notebookcheck could still see slight uneven motion while scrolling on its 512 GB A17 Pro mini, though it was less pronounced than on the previous mini. Readers sensitive to that effect may notice it while scanning a long page. 1
Pen & Storage
- Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil (USB-C)
- Bluetooth keyboards
The A17 Pro mini accepts Apple Pencil Pro and the USB-C Apple Pencil. An owner coming from the sixth-generation mini with a second-generation Pencil needs to budget for a different pen. The new starting capacity of 128 GB is more welcome if local maps, books, and app downloads filled the previous 64 GB model.
Connectivity
- USB-C up to 10 Gbps
Wi-Fi 6E can use the 6 GHz band on a compatible network. If the mini is going to work away from Wi-Fi, decide between a cellular configuration and tethering to a phone. The verified Wi-Fi model can keep working with downloaded material on either side of an internet connection.
Alternatives
The A16 iPad provides a larger page for roughly the same kinds of everyday tasks. Apple also announced a newer A20 Pro mini with an OLED screen. Compare those displays if the small body is essential and you are deciding how much to invest in an older generation.
Verdict
Choose the A17 Pro mini specifically for its size or the combination of a small canvas and Pencil Pro. A larger iPad serves a desk better, and an existing mini that already does the job need not be replaced just for the chip.
About this review
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this product.
Sources & Research
1 reference
Independent sources cited in this article.
- NotebookcheckApple iPad mini 7 (2024) review (opens in a new tab)https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-iPad-mini-7-2024-review-This-compact-tablet-continues-to-be-nearly-unrivaled.930558.0.html
Scrolling on a 512 GB A17 Pro mini and comparison with the previous generation.