Early 2019 iPad mini reviews call it evolutionary, but best small tablet available
Some of the first 2019 iPad mini reviews are going online, with the apparent consensus that while it's the best small-sized tablet on the market, it's merely an evolution meant to keep the Mini relevant.
It pointed out however that the Mini's external design has been virtually unchanged for almost seven years, and that "all the changes to this new Mini are on the inside," referring to things like its A12 processor, True Tone display technology, and increased storage. It also criticized the use of a Lightning port instead of USB-C as on the iPad Pro, and the fact that the tablet only works with the first-generation Apple Pencil, not the second.
"Here's the thing about iPad mini, though: Most of this won't matter," it proposed. "The iPad mini is about emotion. It's not the most popular iPad that Apple makes -- that title goes to the 9.7-inch model -- but the people who are gonna buy it are gonna buy it.
"Did you love an earlier version of iPad mini? Sold."
It remarked though that the Air is "only" $100 more and has a 10.5-inch display, and that the budget-conscious can simply pick up last year's 9.7-inch model for $329. The latter is likely even cheaper as a refurb or through third-party vendors.
Some minor criticisms included the lack of a tap-to-wake function, and a "chunky" $399 price, though it added that "if you want the best you pay for it."
He also described the new Mini's design as "a little dated," and disappointing given the three-plus years since the Mini 4.
It painted the 2019 Mini as "still mostly the same tablet as the iPad mini 4," even compatible with prior accessories. Regardless its blend of compact size and performance makes it worth it, the site said.
It did however cite a "disconnect between the iPad mini's modern specs and its throwback design," pointing out that Apple could've offered up an 8.5-inch display with thinner bezels.
The Verge
"The decision to get an iPad mini is simple: do you want a small, capable tablet? If you do, the mini is obviously worth $399, especially when you consider how long Apple has supported iPads for in the past," The Verge concluded. "There's just nothing else like it."It pointed out however that the Mini's external design has been virtually unchanged for almost seven years, and that "all the changes to this new Mini are on the inside," referring to things like its A12 processor, True Tone display technology, and increased storage. It also criticized the use of a Lightning port instead of USB-C as on the iPad Pro, and the fact that the tablet only works with the first-generation Apple Pencil, not the second.
Wired
Wired called the tablet an "eight-inch bundle of contradictions," seemingly "a product borne from an operations meeting about ways in which to use up existing components." Like The Verge, the magazine criticized relatively thick bezels, and the restriction to the first-gen Pencil."Here's the thing about iPad mini, though: Most of this won't matter," it proposed. "The iPad mini is about emotion. It's not the most popular iPad that Apple makes -- that title goes to the 9.7-inch model -- but the people who are gonna buy it are gonna buy it.
"Did you love an earlier version of iPad mini? Sold."
CNBC
The business network put more emphasis on comparisons with the 2019 iPad Air, saying the Mini is "for people who want a smaller iPad with all of the power of the new iPad Air," of which it thinks there are plenty, even if they may not know it.It remarked though that the Air is "only" $100 more and has a 10.5-inch display, and that the budget-conscious can simply pick up last year's 9.7-inch model for $329. The latter is likely even cheaper as a refurb or through third-party vendors.
TechCrunch
The Mini's true popularity is in "industrial, commercial and medical applications," and this is a major reason why Apple chose to update the tablet, TechCrunch suggested. It nevertheless enthused about the tablet for average person, saying it's "clearly obliterating anything else in its size class."Some minor criticisms included the lack of a tap-to-wake function, and a "chunky" $399 price, though it added that "if you want the best you pay for it."
Engadget
In contrast with TechCrunch, Engadget's reviewer said he's "just not convinced it's the right tablet for most people," even if it's portable and there's "more than enough power." Like CNBC he called attention to the two other lower-cost iPads available, saying "either of those options seem like more sensible choices."He also described the new Mini's design as "a little dated," and disappointing given the three-plus years since the Mini 4.
Mashable
"The iPad mini is not a revolutionary new tablet," Mashable noted, "but it is a very reliable tablet, and for a certain kind of user, that's more important than a thinner profile and slimmer bezels."It painted the 2019 Mini as "still mostly the same tablet as the iPad mini 4," even compatible with prior accessories. Regardless its blend of compact size and performance makes it worth it, the site said.
Laptop
Laptop asserted the new Mini could be useful to "younger kids who are not yet ready for a phone," as well as executives and "creatives," the latter getting a convenient digital sketchbook. "With the new iPad mini, Apple has given its slate enough oomph to justify the device's $399 price," it wrote.It did however cite a "disconnect between the iPad mini's modern specs and its throwback design," pointing out that Apple could've offered up an 8.5-inch display with thinner bezels.
Comments
I don't know that an iPad or any tablet can be revolutionary at this point, at least not until it can project holograms of do X-rays. (AR is the new 3D). Incremental, evolutionary updates are all I would expect. I guess it's supposed to give a tech reporter cred when they drop the evo, not revo bomb.
I don’t have much use for the mini, it’s a weird mix of old and new tech. It’s nitch seems to be students, but not including Pencil 2 support is a major drawback. Apple has been pushing the Pencil heavily in advertising and the Pensil 2 was a major step forward...
I consider tablets to be in the “mature tech” category. If you break it, you replace it. But, there isn’t a “must have” feature in the new tablets to create a need that didn’t already exist.
I have a 9.7” Pro, and I suspect I’m years away from upgrading. If my motivation changes it will probably be because of software...
One thing Apple did address with the new lineup was improved pricing range. The area it didn’t address was appearance, it has a stale design. I agree with reviews on that. I would have liked to see reduced bezels and an in-screen biometrics.
For me the iPad mini 5 allows me to go back to the moleskine days of taking notes and sketching while also bringing along a fully functioning computer with me. I’ve been waiting for this for a while.
Count me among those who think it should have had narrow bezels and a bigger screen within the same footprint. That would have been a delight, instead of merely adequate.
The "fancy" new tech has always been reserved for the top end of their product lines. Yes, eventually it moves down, but usually not until there's a significant gap between the lines. To support the Pencil 2, Apple would have to flatten the edges, a la the Pro. To support thinner bezels, Touch ID has to go, and therefor Face ID would be required. So you would basically end up with cheaper Pro models. And the argument about lacking USB-C... seriously?! If it had USB-C the reviewers would complain that they couldn't use older Lightning cables/devices.
The bezels got bigger.
https://www.macworld.com/article/1151235/macs/apple-rolls.html
...revolutionary products are few and far in between. Continually polishing is great because whenever you are ready to upgrade, which is typically not every single year/iteration, the consumer gets all the iterative improvements.
and a wonderful way of crashing when I link into Safari. And although updating the processors from the Mini4 is a wonderful
improvement, there aren't many other striking advances (use of the lesser pencil is only marginally attractive to my purposes).
Still, I'm neither an 'executive', nor a 'creative', and this is a spectacular upgrade from my 'original'...
Primarily - but not solely - it will serve as my best ebook reader, Kindles being a glitchy, pathetic, unreliable excuse for a tablet.
I'm mostly happy with the changes, aside from having to choose between too little and too much memory - a well-established Apple trick -
and look forward to obtaining one (as soon as I can distract my wife into looking "over there!!!").
As for using an iPad Mini like a Moleskine, has everyone forgetten about BlueTooth Styluses? I’ve been using BT Styluses since my iPhone 4S and iPad Mini 1. I got the First Gen Apple Pencil with the First Gen (9.7) iPad Pro. In my experience it does not offer much more functionality to a generic BT Stylus. These days a functional BT Stylus is under $10, while higher end styluses with different tips and such are under $100.
I thought the Mini was only for poor people, why bother releasing it with an A12 when an A10 is fast enough
I thought 7" was too small to draw on
so many people here said so
The base configuration should be 128 GB, on all devices, including the Mini and X/Xs. Considering the price being charged for them, the difference in added expense to Apple would be minimal, and it would go a long way to justifying the more expensive prices.
So today I'm speaking with my wallet. I would have upgraded my wife's iPad Mini 4 yesterday if it wasn't for this issue. I'll wait it out for Amazon, B&H or Adorama to put it on sale, or get a refurbished one when they show up on the Apple website.