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

It feels a little cramped to use the pencil with.

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

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

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 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

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.

Had my original iPad mini for over 5 years and was well due an upgrade and I'm pleased to get a new one just after the launch of this new model and although the appearance is still very much like the original it's super fast and does everything the original did but faster and apps are nice and...

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

Though Apple has done the bare minimum to update the iPad mini, it remains a lovely device and perhaps the last hurrah for small tablets before foldable phones iron out their display wrinkles and potentially render such tablets redundant.

Powerful A12 Bionic chip; improved display; excellent app ecosystem

Lack of design innovation; no fast charging out of the box; no new features

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.