The Apple iPad mini 6 (2021) primary feature is its tiny stature. Like the iPhone 13 mini, this gadget combines a scaled-down design that will appeal to a wide range of customers with high-end features and power.

Imagine an iPad Air 4, but smaller and with a more powerful processor. A USB-C connector is on the bottom edge, similar to the iPad Air 4’s design.

The 8.3-inch display is sharp and bright enough for outdoor use as well as inside use. Apple calls this an “all-screen design,” but the increased bezels make that claim questionable.

However, the bezels make the Apple iPad Mini 6 easier to grip, so they’re not entirely wrong. You may choose from Purple, Pink, Space Gray, or Starlight.

Apple has assured us that the iPad mini 6 has impressive specifications due to the new A15 Bionic CPU, which has impressed us during our testing. Depending on the model, storage ranges from 64GB to 256GB.

The Apple iPad mini 6 now has 5G, a first for Apple’s smallest tablet. If you have the cellular version and have a compatible carrier, you can connect to next-gen networks.

Apple iPad mini 6: Release Date and Pricing 

The new iPad mini 6 was unveiled alongside the iPhone 13 series on September 14, 2021, and released ten days later in the US, UK, and Australia.

You can order it now on Apple’s website, and it appears to be in stock at other outlets. The iPad Mini 6 begins at $499 (£479/AU$749).

The new iPad Mini 6 variants with 64GB and 256GB storage, Wi-Fi alone, or Wi-Fi + cellular, are listed below. The 2019 iPad mini had 32GB or 128GB storage options. Therefore the 2021 model has quadrupled storage.

Apple iPad mini 6: Design

The compact size makes the new iPad mini 6 easier to operate than even the iPad Air 4. It isn’t quite mini enough for a one-handed operation. It is the right size balance between an iPhone 13 Pro Max and a giant tablet like the iPad Air 4.

Apple offers four colors: Purple, Pink, and Space Gray, plus a cream-like hue called Starlight.

The Apple iPad mini 6 weighs 293 grams (a little less than the 2019 model), making it simple to slip into a backpack – or even a roomy jacket pocket.

The volume buttons are now on the top edge of the new iPad mini 6 from Apple in the top right-hand corner. Previously, they were on the device’s right edge.

Additionally, the Apple iPad mini 6 lacks a home button, a standard feature of previous generations of this tablet. Instead, there’s a power button and Touch ID sensor on the top edge of the tablet’s left corner.

The tablet has a USB-C connection on the bottom edge for charging and attaching peripherals. The iPad mini 6 supports the Apple Pencil, although it isn’t as versatile as the iPad Pro 2021 with its Thunderbolt port.

Apple iPad mini 6: Display

The Apple iPad mini 6 features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with excellent picture quality.

The screen resolution is 2266 x 1488, or 326 pixels per inch. That’s decent for a tablet but not as excellent as certain Android tablets or even the iPad Pro 2021 range.

The screen is sufficiently bright, and the picture quality is clear, so this is unlikely to be an issue. Unlike the 120Hz iPad Pro series, the iPad mini has a 60Hz refresh rate, so navigating social media or playing games isn’t as fluid.

The panel is perfect for a tiny tablet; we would have preferred a 120Hz refresh rate, but that isn’t an issue.

Apple iPad mini 6: Specs and Camera 

Apple iPad Mini 6

The Apple iPad mini 6 is managed by Apple’s new A15 Bionic chipset, which has the same CPU as the iPhone 13 series.

It’s not as powerful as the iPad Pro’s M1 chipset, but it’s more than plenty for the iPad mini 6. The iPad Pro range is a better choice if you require extreme power, but most people will be content with this.

We don’t know how much RAM the iPad mini has, but it worked well in our tests.

Geekbench 5 gave us a multi-core score of 4700, which is close to the iPhone 13. The iPad Mini 5 (2019) earned 2680, while the iPad Pro 2021 got 7297.

While we didn’t anticipate the iPad mini 6 to compete with the M1 processor, the ordinary user won’t require that level of performance, even if they run a lot of power-hungry apps.

The tablet comes with 64GB or 256GB of storage — no microSD support, so you’ll be utilizing the built-in storage plus your iCloud storage. If you expect to save a lot of material on your tablet, the 256GB model is probably best.

However, heavy power users may find 256GB insufficient. If you want to load up your tablet with applications and media, the new iPad Pro has up to 1TB of storage.

The iPad mini 6 also features a 5G connection for the first time. It won’t work with mmWave 5G, so Verizon customers should check before buying.

The iPad mini’s 12MP rear camera has an f/1.8 aperture and digital zoom up to 5x. It’s OK, and although it’s not a replacement for your smartphone camera, it’ll suffice for augmented reality and other apps that require the rear camera.

The tablet has a 12MP ultra-wide camera with a 122-degree field of view and f/2.4 aperture. That is an excellent camera for video calls, and the quality is greater than the back camera.

On the iPad mini 6, Apple has brought Center Stage from the iPad Pro 2021. That allows the camera to track you during video conversations and keep you in the frame.

Since the iPad mini ships with iPadOS 15, the tablet-optimized version of Apple’s operating system runs smoothly on the tablet’s smaller screen.

Widgets on the home screen are excellent additions to iPadOS 15 for the iPad mini 6. Another good addition is the new tap-to-enable split-screen feature.

Because the iPad mini 2015 and 2019 can both upgrade to iPadOS 15, you should get many years of software support if you buy this tablet, it’s not guaranteed, but Apple has a good track record.

Related: Apple Airpods 3 Review

Apple iPad Mini 6

Apple iPad mini 6: Battery Life

The iPad mini 2021’s battery life isn’t incredibly lengthy, but it’s good enough for a full day of everyday use. Apple doesn’t specify the size of the cell within the iPad mini, so we wouldn’t be shocked if some intrepid teardown found out soon.

We found it accurate that Apple claims up to 10 hours of online surfing or video streaming over Wi-Fi. Using your iPad mini at full brightness and switching between applications won’t get you that long — we got roughly eight hours with more focused use.

So the battery life is adequate but not exceptional. Sketching with the Apple Pencil depleted the battery faster, and it’s likely to be considerably faster if you’re using mobile connections.

The tablet comes with a USB-C charger and cord. The 20W rapid charging works well. However, it takes over an hour and a half to fully recharge the tablet.

In our tests, the iPad mini charged from 0% to 17% in 15 minutes and from 16% to 36% in 30 minutes.

The iPad mini lacks wireless charging and isn’t compatible with Apple’s MagSafe adapters for various iPhone versions.

Apple iPad mini 6: Quick Review

Pros

  • Smaller form-factor with more prominent 8.3-inch display
  • Speedy A15 Bionic processor
  • USB-C charging
  • 5G support
  • Great speakers moreover great mics

Cons

  • No Magic Keyboard or headphone jack
  • Expensive 
  • No MagSafe charging
  • The basic model only has 64GB.

Apple iPad mini 6: VERDICT

The new Apple iPad mini 6 2021 is a powerful tablet with a clear smaller screen, 5G connection, and a beautiful and compact design. It’s not the best iPad for everyone, but it is the best little tablet money can buy.

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