iPad Mini (2019) Full Review - The Best Small Tablet? | The Tech Chap By The Tech Chap

Hey guys I'm Tom, a tech job and after four long years, Apple have finally updated the iPad Mini. This is technically the fifth-generation mini, but, to be honest, even next to the original from 2012 its struggle to see the difference just by looking at it actually using it. However, it's a massive leap forward with the ridiculously powerful a12 Bionic processor, the same one used in the iPhone 10s, three gigs of ram up from two on the old mini, more storage and, of course, it ships running iOS 12. So this feels like a proper modern Apple device, but starting at 399 pounds. The same in dollars is the iPad Mini, still the best mini tablet on the market, and should you actually consider buying this? So the new mini offers a whole host of upgrades. The new processor are much better screen: that's 25%, brighter, more color, accurate, less reflective and in now office two-tone we get Apple Pencil support, although frustratingly it's still the first gen version, a brand new 7, megapixel selfie camera and a major overhaul of connectivity, including Bluetooth, five Wi-Fi AC and gigabit LTE, using IOM than, the cellular version.

So that's a pretty big upgrade, then in almost every way, except the design I mean with a few minor tweaks. It's essentially the same thing as the original. From what seven years ago now I mean. On the one hand, it still looks good, and it's a premium well-built tablet, and also in this form factor. It is relatively easy to use one-handed if you're just reading, books or watching videos plus it means they'll, be compatible with all older iPad Mini accessories, but those huge bezels at the top and the bottom I mean it definitely doesn't.

Look like a brand new 2019 tablet. Obviously, there's no face ID. Here we have the classic touch ID home button, although I know some people do actually prefer. This also Apple have stuck with a lightning connector, whether than USB which you get on the latest iPad pros. It kind of feels like we're stuck in this weird limbo, with Apple when it comes to ports, IMAX, MacBook and iPad Pro 7 us PC, whereas iPhones and cheaper iPads still have lightning I mean it's not the end of the world and I do understand why they've stuck with lightning again for compatibility with accessories, including the first gen Apple Pencil and for the same reason, they've kept the old chunkier design to differentiate it from the higher-end models, but when you've just spent at least 400 and iPad Mini with all the new bells and whistles on the inside, but on the outside, nothing really has changed.

It's a little disappointing, but fat, bezels and old ports aside, it's still lovely to use its 6.1 millimeters thick has dual speakers or be it only on the bottom and like the pros. So the sound only comes out of one side, but there is a headphone, jack and I've got to say: I forgot how nice it actually is to use a small tablet. It's a 7.9 inch, retina, LCD screen and great for reading books, watching videos browsing the web playing games, dueling with the pencil and unlike iPad, pros, which are obviously much bigger and cost about twice as much there's no question around the iPad Mini, replacing your laptop or your desktop. It's clearly a secondary device, something to have on the coffee table or to use, while you're on the commute or even give to your kids to play with I, actually have a 2-year-old, nephew who's, the cutest thing in the world, and he loves to play with phones and tablets and touch things and while I wouldn't be particularly comfortable with him playing with an 800-pound iPad Pro. Furthermore, it's also just way too big.

So something like the iPad Mini, which doesn't cost an absolute fortune and even with a case on, is still a good size. Well, I'd be much happier with him playing some kids games from the App Store on this. But then you may think that's seriously overkill for a kid or is a coffee table paperweight, why not just get say a Kindle Fire or something well. That is a fair comment and I think they do offer much better value for money, but whether you're a fan of Apple or not, you have to agree their App Store has a far better range of tablets. Optimized, apps and games than anything else, except of course, for Instagram I mean what the hell is.

This you can even run AR apps now on the Mini, since we have the a12 chip and iOS 12, but whatever you end up using it for it's just a nice experience. Android tablets have come a long way, but except for a cheap Kindle Fire, which you just can't beat when it comes to price, or maybe the Galaxy Tab s, 5 II, although that's using a mid-range processor. In my opinion, iPads really are the best tablets. Although I still can't quite believe that this is how you charge the first generation Apple Pencil like a lollipop, and also you're guaranteed to lose the cap. I mean the reason Apple didn't go with this, can Jem pencil for the new mini or the new air is because well, you need the USB port plus I mean the iPad pros, with the new design have the flat magnetic edges, so the first gen pencil definitely has its flaws, but it's still nice to use, and it's a good option to have.

Although for $99 and considering it is now the older generation one, it would have been nice if it just bundled it with the iPad, the 7 megapixel front. Camera has also been updated, plus they reposition the microphone. So it's much better for FaceTime calls. The camera on the back, though, is basically the same as before 8 megapixels it can shoot 1080p video I'm, not that bothered about it really I mean. If you want a good camera on the back tablet, you can pay more and get the iPad Pro's quality is ok, and it's good enough for scanning documents.

If that's what you need, but you probably shouldn't really expect to take great photos with an iPad Mini anyway. Battery life is incredible, though Apple quote 10 hours, the same as all other iPads, but even that's a bit conservative. It's seriously good I've been using this pretty intensely for the review, and it'll easily get me through a full day. If you're, just watching videos or browsing the web you'll easily get 11 hours. Okay, so we've established the iPad.

Mini looks old, but it feels fast and with the App Store you can't really get a better tablet experience, but is the iPad Mini the one to buy? You've got a lot of options: the iPad, the iPad Mini of the iPad Air and the two pros. So obviously the big selling point of the Mini is its size, but if you want to use it for work or be more productive, the iPad Air has also been updated. It shares the exact same specs, but with a bigger 10.5-inch screen, and it has the smart connector for keyboards. You can always use Bluetooth keyboards with the mini, but it's not as seamless, and it's just a bit small. The iPad Air is 80 pounds more expensive, though than the mini.

So you have to weigh up whether that's worth it for you just for that bigger screen and the smart connector. On the other hand, you have the base iPad, which is 80 pounds less than the mini at 319. It's bigger, but it does have older hardware like the a-10 processor and the screen isn't quite as nice, but really it all comes down to what size you want, and if you want a great tablet that you can use one-handed, then you can't really beat the iPad Mini. What do you think, though? Would you go for the iPad Mini, the iPad, the iPad Air or the iPad Pro those in the poll at the top right, and also, let me know what you make of the new mini in the comments below? Thank you so much for watching guys, hit that like and subscribe button down there. If you enjoyed the video- and you want to see more of my stuff I catch a next time right here on the tech, jab.

Source : The Tech Chap