I ’ve been using theA17 Pro iPad minifor a few week now , and one of two thing has happen : either I ’m suffering from Stockholm Syndrome , or it ’s a better tablet than I expected .
When Apple announced the new miniback in October , my principal reaction was one of disappointment , because we had waited so long for so little to change . Three year ( and one calendar month ) after the launching of a major redesign that made the iPad mini relevant and suitable again , Apple collapse us the same design with the same superannuated portrayal - orientation FaceTime television camera . The cameras are the same in other esteem too , other than a minor package protuberance to Smart HDR 4 , and while a double - generation processor jump from A15 to A17 sounds good , it still leaves the miniskirt a long way behind even the iPad Air , rent alone the iPad Pro , both of which are multiple generation into Apple ’s screen background - class M silicon chip . And the new colors are just … boring .
I stand behind these initial responses , which stay true : the 2024 iPad miniskirt is a far less substantial rise than we were entitle to require after three - plus class of waiting . But when you actually use the thing , it ’s difficult to escape the fact that it ’s a very solidly specced tablet in a brilliant , superb form element .
Until they apply one , nobody thinks they want an iPad with an 8.3 - column inch blind – not when there are alternatives at 10.9 inches and above . It wo n’t be good for follow motion picture , we all think , wrongheadedly . I wo n’t love playing games on it . Websites will be cramp and I ’ll have to squint to read their headlines .
I ’m not going to deny the delight of watch a movie on a monumental iPad , but there is a unassailable peril when buying technical school of letting the perfect be the opposition of the good . Watching a picture show on the iPad miniskirt is still good . Playing games is still good . you may read site just all right – after all , the huge majority of website reading takes place on smartphones , which top out at under 7 in .
It might not be the optimal experience in every individual respect , but in return for compromising slightly on the widescreen wow cistron you get a machine that ’s tacky and far more portable than an iPad Air , and by and large conform to a lozenge ’s job description far better . What most of us need from the iPad is a ready to hand screen we can grab while slack on the lounge , not an IMAX movie theater .
( Now , if you ’re planning toworkon an iPad , then I fully agree that the mini is not the modelling for you . The reduced concealment real estate will injure , as will the deficiency of an megabyte - stratum chip , a Smart Connector , and wizard accessories . You should get an Air at lower limit , and preferably a Pro . But you should also accept that , in the irresistibly casual tab sector , you are in the nonage . )
It all reminds me of the iPhone 13 miniskirt , a twist Ichampionedand then mourn when nobody buy one and Apple ( right ) pull the plug . The iPhone miniskirt design was superb : a admonisher of the days when you could put a sound in your pocket without being constantly reminded that it ’s there , while still packing a mellow - lineament , nice - size screen . The problem is that we ’ve leave how to compromise , and we overlook the sensitive option in favor of one with good specs . Which is perhaps understandable , render that the tech manufacture ’s success rests on convincing us to buy better equipment than we need , more often than we can open to , and that the safe marketing brains in the world labour daily to convince us that salutary enough is n’t near enough .
That does n’t entail we ca n’t be demanding , and the iPad mini is still a disappointing machine in a telephone number of slipway . I ’m not well-chosen with the position of the front - facing camera , and I bid Apple would give the miniskirt the same gorgeous vibrant garden pink you could get on the 10th - gen iPad . But it ’s still a beautiful , portable short pad with a laminated covert and support for Apple Intelligence , and in a public of tech product that compact far more than they need to into an oversize build at an outsize terms , I cogitate that ’s worth celebrating .
Foundry
Welcome to our hebdomadal Apple Breakfast pillar , which include all the Apple news you miss last hebdomad in a handy bite - sized roundup . We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea , but it ’s cool if you require to give it a read during luncheon or dinner party hour too .
Apple ismost dangerouswhen itshows up of late .
Thegreat purge : Every product Apple killedin 2024 .
TheM4 Macsprove that Apple shouldsteal from itself more .
TheiPhone 17 Airrumors are asmack in the facefor iPhone miniskirt lovers .
The M4 MacBook Pro ’s speakersare a lot easy – andcheaper – to fix .
It’sCyber Monday ! Browse thevery best Apple dealswith our dedicated guide .
Podcast of the week
‘ Tis the season to go shopping ! On the later instalment of the Macworld Podcast , we ’ve catch some tips and legerdemain to get the most out of theholiday shopping season ! Find out how to make the most out of your purchases , coming up next !
you could take hold of every sequence of the Macworld Podcast onSpotify , Soundcloud , thePodcasts app , orour own site .
Reviews corner
The rumor mill
Get quick fordisappointment : The next iPhone SE will be astudy in sacrifice .
iPhone 17 Air design revealed:5 - 6 millimeter aluminum case , single camera , more .
Apple hasbad newsforAirPods audiophiles .
Here’severything coming from AppleinDecember .
Software updates, bugs, and problems
There seems to be ahidden defect in the iMacthat ’s basically awarranty time dud .
