It had been a while. The last time Apple had refreshed the smallest iPad in its line-up, it seemed like a different era. The year 2015, to be precise. That was when the fourth generation iPad Mini was still rocking the charts.

The iPad mini 2019 is Apple's most totable iPad, and it's deceptively powerful for its small size. It has a bright 7.9-inch display that works with the Apple Pencil and a chipset that smokes the small tablet competition. Its price is equally deceptive, costing more than the larger iPad 9.7.

Perfect size to tote around; Works with the Apple Pencil; Surprisingly powerful specs

Unchanged; bezel-heavy design; Uses the older Apple Pencil; Costs more than the iPad 9.7

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

The looks haven't changed, but under-the-skin improvements make the latest iPad Mini even better than before

Bright; punchy and vibrant; Lots of dark detail; Crisp sound

Blacks could be deeper; Speaker placement

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

A mini tablet is great for books; and even movies

It feels a little cramped to use the pencil with

A mini tablet is great for books; and even movies.

It feels a little cramped to use the pencil with.

Apple has a reputation for forcing change on us right when we've gotten comfortable with its designs. Sure, we often resist (and sometimes Apple is wrong), but more often than not the Cupertino company proves that breaking out of our comfort zones leads to better user experiences and perhaps even a...

Powerful A12 Bionic chip delivers remarkable performance; Support for first-generation Apple Pencil; Pleasantly portable size

Older design is starting to show its age

While I obsess over smartphones and often find myself switching SIM cards daily, I tend to try only Apple iPads on an annual basis and then just for a few months before moving on. I passed my 2015 iPad Mini 4 to my youngest daughter and then my 2017 iPad Pro 10.5 inch tablet to my oldest daughter as...

Diminutive size for a tablet; Solid construction and simple design; Lightning fast performance; Apple Pencil support; Long battery life; 3.5mm headset jack

Large top and bottom bezels; $130 cellular premium

While I obsess over smartphones and often find myself switching SIM cards daily, I tend to try only Apple iPads on an annual basis and then just for a few months before moving on. I passed my 2015 iPad Mini 4 to my youngest daughter and then my 2017 iPad Pro 10.5 inch tablet to my oldest daughter as...

Diminutive size for a tablet; Solid construction and simple design; Lightning fast performance; Apple Pencil support; Long battery life; 3.5mm headset jack

Large top and bottom bezels; $130 cellular premium