Apple iPad Mini (2019)

VERDICT

It might look just like the old model, but the new iPad Mini is a vastly more powerful tablet with an upgraded screen and Apple Pencil support

- Jonathan Bray

FOR A PRODUCT so popular – and made by a company so fond of annual refreshes – it’s been an awfully long time since there was a new iPad Mini. The last, fourth-generation version launched in 2015, and what a different world we live in now. It’s all the more surprising, therefore, that this new fifth-gen iPad Mini doesn’t appear to have changed much physically. The case design is the same, down to the last millimetre; the button positions are the same; and the screen is the same size and resolution, too.

That’s a little disappointing. You might have thought Apple would have fitted some more contemporary upgrades, such as an edge-to-edge display, or perhaps removed the home button in the interest of a higher screen-to-body ratio.

Still, it’s good to see that there have been some tweaks. Despite some familiar key specs, the display’s underlying technology has been upgraded, while fresh internal, performance-critical components mean this is the fastest iPad Mini ever. And it’s also now compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil, making it a handy note-taking companion.

In typical Apple fashion, it’s not cheap: we tested the most basic £399 model, with 64GB of internal storage and Wi-Fi-only connectivity. Splash out on the top £699 model, and you upgrade to 128GB of storage and mobile data as well as Wi-Fi. You can also get a couple of other combinations in between these storage and connectivity options.

RECYCLABLE MATERIAL

On paper, the iPad Mini looks an absolute shoo-in for anyone looking for a smaller, more compact tablet, but we’ll reiterate: physically, this tablet is no different to its four-year-old predecessor. That will probably be a disappointment for all those who like new, shiny toys.