With a powerful A12 Bionic chip, the new iPad mini (2019) is still the best small tablet yet, and will likely remain so in the coming years.

The new 5th-generation iPad mini, then, is pretty much the definition of a mixed bag; on the one hand, the performance improvements are absolutely staggering compared to the previous generation, and the addition of Apple Pencil support will please note-takers, sketchers and digital artists alike.

Outstanding speed; Portable and convenient size; Beautiful display; Apple Pencil support

Few added features over the mini 4; reduced battery life

Apple decided to leave the 5th generation iPad mini's design untouched, thereby targeting all those interested in refreshing their aging devices with brand-new hardware. And that is exactly what the iPad mini 5 has to offer.

very fast system performance; support for Apple Pencil; 3.5-mm audio port; decent speakers; robust case

high premium for LTE and higher storage tiers; memory not expandable; no GPS

All the power of an iPad in an easier to tote around size.

Love it, size is handy. I use it mostly for reading via kindle app. Downloads are much faster than any tablet I have had, even faster than my 10.5 iPad Pro. It is a much handier size to carry and will get the most use.

I bought this for my fiancee who is loving the size of the tablet and how nice the screen is. It's super fast and light. Perfect for trips to watch downloaded movies on the plane and it's more convenient in size than the Ipad Pro I use.

The iPad mini is a powerful and capable little tablet, but we prefer the extra screen size of the iPad Air.

Very strong processor and graphics; Vibrant and sharp True Tone screen; Apple Pencil support; Small and light; of course

Screen size limited for working; Design is a bit outdated now; No Smart Connector for keyboards

Just a good product

The iPad mini proves that this form factor is still desirable and useful even in an age of larger smartphones. With the A12 processor at an affordable base price, Apple’s smallest tablet is a tiny powerhouse of a computer. Yes, the design is seven years old but with the addition of Apple Pencil support and with decent battery life, Apple has breathed new life back into the iPad mini. Not everyone wants or needs to spend £1,000 on an iPad Pro.

Great performance; Decent battery life; Apple Pencil support;

Dated design; Average cameras;

Apple's new $399 iPad mini has almost all the power of the iPhone XS, at half the price. It's the tablet to get if you have demanding software needs, but you want something that will fit in a hand, a lab coat, or on a vehicle mount. Apple has done its usual yeoman job here, and there aren't many other tablets on the market that are both small and powerful. That makes the 2019 iPad mini our Editor's Choice for small, high-end tablets. iPad mini Use Cases Who's the iPad mini for? That's going to color a lot of my judgment from here on out. I'll say that it's not for people who want a "cheap iPad" or a "cheap tablet." There is a better cheap iPad for your kids to play Toca Boca games on—the $329, sixth-generation, 9.7-inch iPad—and much cheaper tablets for basic use. But if you look around, there are a lot of iPad minis in business. Smaller tablets work well on vehicle mounts, as point-of-sale systems, for taking your restaurant order, for writing a prescription by a bedside, for g...

Apple's iPad mini is the only small, premium tablet you should consider buying right now.

Powerful processor; Solid screen; Broad LTE options; Apple Pencil support; Light and easy to carry

Compatible Apple Pencil isn't the better model; Aging design