IN many ways, this new iPad mini is a smaller version of the newest iPad Pro that was released earlier this year. Like that tablet, the mini feels like a premium product, though at a much lower sticker price.
Sporting an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, on paper, it lacks the bells and whistles of the newest iPhone screens and the screens of the iPad Pro. But in practice, it’s a really good screen that’s no slouch when it comes to playing Netflix, YouTube or other media.
Weighing less than 300gm, it's light without feeling flimsy. It fits comfortably in the hands, either ‘naked’ or with a cover. Like the Pro model, there are no sharp edges with the sides pleasantly curved.
The combination of the display quality and the mini’s small dimensions means it is very easy to end up browsing social media or playing games while you’re lying in bed supposedly getting ready to sleep.
If there’s an issue with the design, it would have to do with the placement of the buttons. The two-volume buttons and the Touch ID sensor (there’s no Face ID) are both located on the ‘top’ of the device. On other iPads, the sound controls would be on the side. It’s not that big an inconvenience, it just takes getting used to as you need to hold it a little differently.
All-round productivity device
Apart from entertainment purposes, the iPad mini does a good job at being an all-around office productivity tablet – though not as a primary device. The lack of compatibility with Apple’s own Magic Keyboards (which work with other iPads) means a lot of office work (anything requiring a lot of typing) is just not possible.
This is a device that’s meant to be carried around, with the note-taking done via the Apple Pencil – which is a natural partner for the iPad mini, even in terms of its physical dimensions. Aesthetically they complement each other, though it would be nice if Apple made their peripherals in different colours.
With the Pencil, you’ll find yourself using the pre-installed Notes app a lot, and with an upward flick of the stylus from the lower right corner (whichever side the tablet is oriented) Quick Notes becomes accessible. There are also third-party note-taking apps of course.
For the artistically inclined, apps like Adobe Fresco and Sketchbook let you use the Pencil to doodle to your heart’s content. With its small size, the iPad mini might be the perfect tablet for the artist on the go. It lacks the variable refresh rate of the Pro model, but again, this is a much more affordable device.
What the iPad mini does have in common with the iPad Pro is the Centre Stage feature for video calls.
In simple terms, the Ultra Wide front camera recognises faces and automatically pans to keep users in focus as they move around the frame. As other people join in, the camera detects them and smoothly zooms out to easily include them in the conversation.
On the go
As a cover, Apple offers the Smart Folio (RM269), available in black, white, dark cherry, English lavender, and electric orange. It’s slim and lightweight, and matches the aesthetic of the iPad – though it does accumulate smudges.
The cover also automatically wakes up the iPad when opened and puts it to sleep when closed. It can be folded into a couple of different positions, to make reading, typing, watching content and making video calls more convenient.
The iPad mini (available in pink, starlight, purple, and space grey) starts at RM2,299, but that’s the 64GB model, which is a bit low for a device of this type. Unfortunately, the only bump up in size is the 256GB model at RM2,949, so Apple is putting its thumb on the scale a bit there.
That being said, its small size means it should be the device of choice for users on the go. It’s an all-rounder in terms of what it can do, and unlike its bigger siblings, it isn’t trying to replace your laptop – embracing its role as a tablet. – The Vibes, November 16, 2021
