Get the newest technology while it’s on (rare) sale. Fans claim it’s the perfect size for reading and watching.

I can still clearly recall the initial iPad mini’s release by Apple. “Why not just use your phone?” I asked myself before I really got one.

I understood the first time I tried it. It had a lot more screen space than a phone, but it was also easier to type on and could fit in one hand—two things I couldn’t claim about its full-size sister.

With the new iPad mini officially on sale, you can have all of that power in your pocket for less money.

Apple Intelligence, an A17 Pro CPU, and 128GB of memory—double the typical base standard—are highlights of this latest generation of small tablets.

Why is this an excellent offer?

Even though a $49 discount might not seem like much, any reduction on a brand-new Apple product is significant, particularly for iPads, which typically retain their value. This iPad mini with 128GB of RAM is $450, the lowest price ever.

I need this, but why?

Do you think this is just your phone, only a little bigger? Rethink your thought. With a 3:2 aspect ratio instead of the iPhone’s 2:1, the iPad mini is significantly broader, can hold more text, and feels more like a book or magazine in your hand for readers. Since it fits in your palm much more easily than the full-size iPad, it’s perfect for traveling or putting in a backpack for your daily commute.

The iPad mini has a tone of functionality. You shouldn’t feel any lag because it’s powered by the A17 Bionic chip, something I can’t say for my Kindle. Its 12-megapixel front and rear cameras are also included, and because of its smaller size, you won’t seem foolish holding it up to take pictures. Whether your medium is digital painting or photography, this tablet can be transformed into an art studio with the optional (but highly recommended) Apple Pencil Pro.

Additionally, this is the first iPad mini with Apple Intelligence. You might wonder what Apple Intelligence is. It’s how Apple adds even more functionality and personalization to your iPhone. In order to make things go more smoothly and quickly, it learns from your tastes and behaviors to make suggestions for things like meeting reminders, images from particular occasions, or even predictive text while you type.

The opinions of reviewers

Due to its recent release, this iPad has only had a few reviews on Amazon, the most of which are five stars. It should come as no surprise that customers have given the previous version iPad mini a significant number of five-star reviews; nearly 10,000, in fact, describing it as “a compact powerhouse.”

Advantages

One of the main appeals, according to this five-star reviewer, is portability. “I read, stream movies and TV series, use my iPad as a planner, use it as a coloring book and sketchbook, and browse the web. In addition, I bought a second-generation Apple Pencil and a Paper like screen protector, which makes writing on it easier and smoother. This is something I adore! It fits in the majority of my purses and is ideal for taking practically anywhere.

“I am coming from the iPad mini 5th generation and wow is this a huge step up,” another satisfied buyer exclaimed. “It moves quite quickly. Fantastic quality, feel, and camera. The image quality is fantastic. Even when it has a case on, it is incredibly portable. It has excellent storage. Even after installing the latest iOS, I still have 30GB available.

“I had been looking for something to take quick notes at work, edit PDFs for simple stuff at work and home, and I had really been getting sick of reading on my phone,” said a final customer with five stars. “We have an iPad Pro 10-inch and the new 10th generation Air, and none of them seem to perform any better than mine does, but the big thing about it that is huge for me is that it is so small and light, super easy to tote around, doesn’t really add any weight to my bag.”

Cons

“I will say, battery life is subpar, especially when compared with my older iPad Pro,” one customer warned. “My 2021 iPad Mini and 2022 iPad Air don’t have the longest battery life, but at least they charge fast thanks to the USB-C charger that comes with them. I carry an Anker portable battery with me when I travel, just in case, even though I suppose the most recent models don’t last as long.

Additionally, some users miss the home button, which Apple removed from the iPad mini. According to this user, “you sort of have to fling things off the screen,” “It probably works for you if you enjoy that. I don’t. It takes some time to get used to, and I doubt I ever will.

Compared to your iPhone, the iPad mini’s 3:2 screen ratio makes it feel much more like a book in your palm.